The swelling phenomenon of acrylic resin polymer teeth at the interface with denture base polymers.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the interface between acrylic resin polymer teeth and denture base polymers.


METHODS
An autopolymerized denture base polymer was cured either at 30 degrees C, 50 degrees C, or 70 degrees C, and a heat-cured denture base polymer was cured at 100 degrees C in contact with acrylic resin polymer teeth. The specimens were ground wet and polished to a thickness of 0.21 mm for the examination of the interface with a light microscope. The surface of the specimens was then treated with the solvent tetrahydrofuran, and the specimens were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM).


RESULTS
As a result of grinding, the inner parts of the beads at the interface of the teeth were exposed to the denture base polymer. The inner part in these polymer beads of the polymer teeth swelled to a depth of 3 microns when the autopolymerized polymer was cured at 30 degrees C. When cured at 70 degrees C, the thickness of the swelled layer was 21 microns (p < 0.001). Microscopically, the interface between the heat-cured denture base polymer and the polymer teeth appeared diffuse in the region of the interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) and the matrix. The IPN appeared as a separate zone in the outer parts of the beads of the teeth, both with the light microscope and with the SEM.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that by increasing the polymerization temperature, the monomers of the denture base polymers diffused more effectively into acrylic resin polymer teeth. This increases the bond strength between the polymer teeth and the denture base polymer.
Vallittu
P K
PK
Scandinavian Institute of Dental Materials, Haslum, Norway.
Ruyter
I E
IE
Nat
R
R
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002244:Carbon; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D001840:Dental Bonding; D003775:Dental Polishing; D003819:Denture Bases; D004058:Diffusion; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014093:Tooth, Artificial; D014867:Water
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005663:Furans; D008689:Methacrylates; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D011108:Polymers; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; C018674:tetrahydrofuran; D002244:Carbon; C004919:ethylene dimethacrylate; C022088:silicon carbide