Effects of fluconazole, chlorhexidine gluconate, and silver-zinc zeolite on flexural strength of heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate resin.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the effect of incorporating Fluconazole, Chlorhexidine Gluconate, and Silver-Zinc Zeolite as bioactive materials (10% of mass) on the flexural strength of commercially available heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA; Travelon).


METHODS
The following four groups were compared; Group 1: Control group with pure PMMA, Group 2: Antibacterial drug group with chlorhexidine gluconate in powder form + PMMA, Group 3: Antifungal drug group with fluconazole in powder form + PMMA, Group 4: Antimicrobial agent group with silver zinc zeolite in powder form + PMMA. After processing, the specimens were subjected for flexural strength testing using three-point bending test in a universal testing machine.


RESULTS
A significant (P < 0.0001) decrease in flexural strength following incorporation of Fluconazole, Chlorhexidine Gluconate, and Silver-Zinc Zeolite to heat polymerized acrylic resin was observed when compared with the control group. The decrease in mean flexural strength was minimal in the fluconazole group.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the addition of a bioactive material to PMMA acrylic is desirable, it is not practical as it reduces flexural strength of the acrylic base.
Department of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Implantology, Peoples Dental Academy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Naveen S
NS
Yadav
Department of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Implantology, Peoples Dental Academy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Sneha
S
Saraf
Department of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Implantology, Peoples Dental Academy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Sunil Kumar
SK
Mishra
Department of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Implantology, Peoples Dental Academy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Puja
P
Hazari
Bioactive compounds; chlorhexidine gluconate; flexural strength; fluconazole; polymethyl methacrylate; silver-zinc zeolite