Comparative Analysis of the Water Sorption and Cytotoxicity of Two different Denture Base Systems: An in vitro Study.

AIM: Different biomaterials and techniques have been introduced in the field of prosthetic dentistry with the purpose of replacement and rehabilitation of the edentulous areas. Due to their shorter setting time, the light-activated restorative and prosthetic materials have the capability of releasing few amount of cytotoxic materials in the oral cavity. Polymer materials [urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) and bis-acryl] are assumed to have high mechanical properties. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) offers numerous advantages of being highly esthetic in nature and at the same time being cost-effective. Hence, this study aimed to assess and compare the water sorption and cytotoxicity of light-activated UDMA denture base resin and conventional heat-activated PMMA resin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included assessment and comparison of water sorption and cytotoxicity of heat-activated PMMA resin and light-activated UDMA denture base system. Fabrication of heat-activated PMMA resin and UDMA specimens was done by investing the wax patterns in stone molds using manufacturer's instructions. Contraction of the specimens was done for assessment of cytotoxicity and water resorption of the UDMA and PMMA resin samples. All the results were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 18.0. Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance tests were used for the assessment of the level of significance; p < 0.05 was taken as significant.

RESULTS: Mean lysis score observed in the PMMA and UDMA groups was 0.4 and 0.3 respectively. While observing at the 3 months time, the mean water resorption in the PMMA and UDMA groups was found to be 37.9 and 40.2 respectively. Significant difference in relation to water resorption was observed between the two study groups only at 3 months time.

CONCLUSION: Both materials used in this study are nontoxic. Furthermore, UDMA resin materials exhibited lower water resorption after more than 1 month of time of storage.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Water resorption is similar for different denture base resin systems till 1 months time.