In vitro testing of the bond between soft materials used for maxillofacial prostheses and cast titanium.
BACKGROUND
The choice of soft materials for maxillofacial prostheses is important for covering extraoral defects after tumor surgery or radiation therapy. The use of cast commercially pure titanium as reinforcement seems to be a suitable option.


OBJECTIVE
Making use of the advantages of titanium frameworks for maxillofacial prostheses requires exploring ways of combining it with soft materials. This study investigated such combinations and evaluated discoloration of the soft material to determine whether it was attributable to the titanium reinforcement.


METHODS
Five soft materials used for maxillofacial prostheses and their bond strengths to cast titanium were tested. Different ways of conditioning the titanium surface and different adhesives were used. Plain mechanical retention was also studied. The Gretag SPM 100 was used to determine the potential effects on coloring after 24 hours of radiation in the Suntest rapid exposure unit.


RESULTS
Suitable material combinations for bonding soft materials to titanium were found for all soft materials studied. Bond strength varied depending on the chemical basis of the soft material. Results indicated that maximal bond strengths were obtained by the combinations Supersoft with Super-Bond, Supersoft with subsequent silicoating, and bonding with Dentacolor connector. Few color shifts attributable to the titanium reinforcement were evident in the 2-mm layers of the soft materials applied.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed that it is possible to combine a titanium framework and soft silicone materials.
Wolf
B H
BH
Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Reitemeier
B K
BK
Schmidt
A E
AE
Richter
G H
GH
Duncan
G
G
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D003116:Color; D001840:Dental Bonding; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008447:Maxillofacial Prosthesis; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D017797:Prosthesis Coloring; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013472:Sunlight; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000269:Adhesives; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001896:Boron Compounds; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C078091:Flexor Dental Liner; D008689:Methacrylates; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; C027899:Mollomed; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011145:Polyvinyls; D019279:Resin Cements; D012821:Silanes; D012828:Silicones; D012833:Siloxanes; C034183:vinyl polysiloxane; D017438:Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate; C031172:4-META resin; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; C049495:Super-bond; C057365:Dentacolor; D014025:Titanium