title: Effect of Reinforcement Using Stainless Steel Mesh, Glass Fibers, and Polyethylene on the Impact Strength of Heat Cure Denture Base Resin - An In Vitro Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact strength of denture base resin is of great concern and many approaches have been made to strengthen acrylic resin dentures. The objective of this study was to compare the impact strength of the denture base resin with and without reinforcement and to evaluate the impact strength of denture base resin when reinforced with stainless steel mesh, glass fiber, and polyethylene fibers in the woven form.
  
  
  METHODS
  The specimens (maxillary denture bases) were fabricated using a standard polyvinylsiloxane mold with conventional heat cured polymethyl methacrylate resin. The specimens were divided into four groups (n = 10). Group I specimens or control group were not reinforced. Group II specimens were reinforced with stainless steel mesh and Group III and Group IV specimens were reinforced with three percent by weight of glass fibers and polyethylene fibers in weave form respectively. All the specimens were immersed in water for 1-week before testing. The impact strength was measured with falling weight impact testing machine. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highest impact strength values were exhibited by the specimens reinforced with polyethylene fibers followed by glass fibers, stainless steel mesh, and control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reinforcement of maxillary complete dentures showed a significant increase in impact strength when compared to unreinforced dentures. Polyethylene fibers exhibit better impact strength followed by glass fibers and stainless steel mesh. By using pre-impregnated glass and polyethylene fibers in woven form (prepregs) the impact strength of the denture bases can be increased effectively.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: H B Mallikarjuna
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sharaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shaik
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Bhabha College of Dental Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Harleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sachdeva
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Prosthodontics, Peoples Dental Academy Bhopal, India.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khare
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Satheesh B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Haralur
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Roopa
keywords: Acrylic resin; glass fibers; impact strength; polyethylene fibers; polymethyl methacrylate; reinforcement; stainless steel mesh