Transverse strength and fatigue of denture acrylic-glass fiber composite.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this experiment were: 1) to test the effect of a high concentration of continuous glass fibers on the transverse strength of test specimens made of heat-cured acrylic resin; and 2) to determine the fatigue weakening of both unreinforced and continuous glass fiber-reinforced specimens of heat-cured acrylic resin shaped into upper complete dentures.


METHODS
A three-point loading test was used to determine the transverse strength of test specimens (n = 30 per group). The fatigue test was the constant deflection test (n = 10 per group).


RESULTS
The results revealed that, compared to unreinforced specimens, continuous glass fibers at a concentration of 58 wt% enhanced the transverse strength of the test specimens up to 146% (p < 0.001) and increased the fatigue resistance (p < 0.001) during 5 x 10(5) loading cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that by incorporating glass fibers into PMMA denture bases, the strength of the denture can be increased.
Vallittu
P K
PK
Department of Prosthetics and Stomatognathic Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Lassila
V P
VP
Lappalainen
R
R
D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003819:Denture Bases; D005898:Glass; D008422:Materials Testing; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013718:Tensile Strength
D003188:Composite Resins; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; C009753:fiberglass