Comparison of two resilient attachment systems for implant-/mucosa-supported overdentures with a PEKK framework: a clinical pilot study

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine differences between Locator and CM LOC attachment systems regarding patient satisfaction and wear of the abutments and their inserts. Plaque accumulation onto the polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) framework and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was investigated for the implant-supported overdentures. Methods Seventeen edentulous patients were randomised to receive either Locator or CM LOC system for the first year. The total number of implants was 53. After the randomisation, 25 implants received Locator system, and 28 implants received CM LOC system in the first year. After a period of 12 months, the attachment system was exchanged from either Locator to CM LOC or vice versa. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires were used to evaluate patient satisfaction, chewing comfort, and pressure lesions. Prosthesis hygiene on the PMMA and PEKK surfaces was evaluated by using Stark plaque index. After the exchange of the abutments, they were stored until the end of the 24 months, and the surface wear of the abutments was analysed using a scanning electron microscope. Results Three patients (10 implants) died shortly before the end of the first year. Two patients (7 implants) received only Locator system since CM LOC was not indictable for their implant system. Patient’s satisfaction was increased when the attachment system was changed from Locator to CM LOC after 12 months of wearing time. Chewing ability and comfort were increased when the attachment system was changed from CM LOC to Locator after 12-month wearing time. There was no influence of the change of the attachment system on pressure lesions. The observed plaque accumulation was higher on the PMMA than on the PEKK surface. For the 8 investigated Locator abutments, the wear was within low and middle level. For the 28 investigated CM LOC abutments, the wear was within middle and high level for the terminal implants and between low and middle for the central implants (for patients who received 4 implants). Conclusions Patient’s satisfaction and wearing comfort can be improved with implant-supported overdentures with CM LOC abutments in comparison to Locator. There was no clear difference between both attachment systems concerning the chewing ability of the patients. Plaque accumulation was observed on both attachment systems in different areas. Plaque accumulation on PEKK surface was less than on PMMA surface. Clinical relevance The CM LOC attachment system offers stable and comfortable wearing conditions for implant-supported overdentures. The use of PEKK as a framework material could reduce the incidence of pressure lesions.

Coupled Superhydrophilic PMMA Film with Inverted Pyramid Microstructures for Antireflection and Antifogging Properties

Transparent substrates with antifogging and antireflection ability are of extreme significance for optical devices, because they alleviate performance loss and maintenance costs. Here, we reported that a multifunctional film, with excellent mechanical properties, can be fabricated on the PMMA surface via the micro-transfer printing method. In particular, the synergistic effect of the inverted pyramid microstructure and SiO2 nanoparticles gives the film excellent antireflective, superhydrophilic and antifogging properties, and the silica sol firmly adheres to the PMMA substrate via the silane coupling agent, which exhibits an encouraging prospect of practical applications from lenses for personal and sports eyewear to transparent displays and sensors, etc.

Research and Prediction of Wettability of Irregular Square Column Structure on Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Surface Prepared by Femtosecond Laser

Based on the contact angle prediction model of a traditional square column structure, the prediction models for wettability of a parallelogram square column structure (PSCS) on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) surface prepared by femtosecond laser were established. An experiment was conducted to analyze the rationality of the established complete wetting model and incomplete wetting model. It was found that the incomplete wetting prediction model of the square column structure was more in line with the actual situation. For PSCS, the length of both the long and short sides of the boss and the width of the groove exerted an impact on the contact angle prediction results. Under the condition that the length of the long and short sides of the boss remained unchanged and the groove width increased, the contact angle increased under complete wetting and incomplete wetting. In contrast, under the condition that the long side length of the boss and the groove width remained unchanged and the short side length of the boss increased, the contact angle increased under complete wetting but decreased under incomplete wetting. The maximum contact angle reached 135.65°, indicating that PSCS on PMMA surface enhanced the surface hydrophobicity of the material.

Shear Bond Strength and Optical Properties of Resin Composite - Layered Provisional Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)

Aims: To compare the shear bond strength between resin composite and Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with various bonding protocols and to evaluate the optical properties of resin composite - layered provisional Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Materials and Methods: Eighty cylindrical shape specimens were fabricated from self-polymerized provisional Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and they were randomly divided into eight groups. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was mixed and bonded onto the specimens as a positive control group. Resin composite was bonded to MMA-wetted surface without bonding agent as a negative control group. All remaining groups were bonded to resin composite using different bonding agents (Scothbond Universal, Luxatemp glaze&bond, and HC Primer) with and without MMA wetting. Shear bond strength testing was performed using a universal testing machine. Various shades of 0.5 mm-thick resin composites were layered onto 1.5 mm-thick PMMA both light and dark shade, with the most effective bonding protocol. Color differences between resin composite and – layered provisional Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were measured using Spectrophotometer. Results: Bonding resin composite onto Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) using luxatemp glaze, bond and HC Primer without methyl methacrylate wetting provided statistically significantly lower bond strength than those of the MMA-wetted Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface. The highest shear bond strength was achieved with the application of Scothbond Universal Adhesive regardless of MMA wetting. The colors of resin composite - layered provisional Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were different from the original resin composite color with ΔE results greater than the acceptable threshold (>3.7). Conclusion: Resin composites were able to effectively bond to the MMA-wetted Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface with the application of a tested bonding agent. Layering Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with 0.5 mm-thick resin composite could not modify the Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shade to the original resin composite color.

Cinnamaldehyde and α-terpineol as an alternative for using as denture cleansers: antifungal activity and acrylic resin color stability

Objective: here was investigated the potential of phytoconstituents as cinnamaldehyde and α-terpineol as denture cleansers, which was evaluated the antifungal activity, also their effect on the color change of the poly(methyl)methacrylate (PMMA). Methodology: Candida albicans biofilms were formed on PMMA specimens and exposed a 10 minutes daily treatment with cinnamaldehyde (10 mg/ mL), α-terpineol (10 mg/ mL), NaCl 0.9%, and NaClO 1%. Biofilms were collected, then analyzed the cell viability (CFU/ mL), cell metabolism (MTT), and roughness. Moreover, the color variation of the specimens during seven and 14 days was checked. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney, and ANOVA one-way were applied (α < 0.05). Results: cinnamaldehyde and α-terpineol decrease the number of viable cells compared to NaCl 0.9% by 76% and 83.2%, respectively (p< 0.05). Both substances reduce biofilm metabolism by around 70% (p< 0.05). Also, the phytoconstituents showed low biofilm roughness, similar to NaClO (p> 0.05), without changing the color of the acrylic resin (p> 0.05). Conclusion: cinnamaldehyde and α-terpineol, at a concentration of 10 mg/ mL, shows antifungal activity on C. albicans biofilms free from PMMA surface changes. From a clinical viewpoint, these substances have a strong potential to be incorporated into denture cleansers solutions.

Influence of Surface Characteristics of Different Implant Abutment Materials on Growth of Porphyromonas Gingivalis

The purpose of the present study was to determine the surface physicochemical properties of polished implant abutment materials and to investigate their relationship with the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis in vitro. Four groups of the most popular prosthetic materials were used in this study: titanium alloy (Ti), yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide (3Y-TZP), polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composite, and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The plate shape specimens (10 × 10 × 0.5 mm) were polished by applying sequential mechanical polishing. Measurements of water contact angle (WCA), surface free energy (SFE) and roughness were performed. Also, the growth of P.gingivalis was measured via counting colony-forming units to milliliter (CFUs/mL). The WCA means were significantly different among all groups, and the highest hydrophilicity was observed on the PEEK, whereas the lowest on PMMA surface. All measured surfaces had similarly low SFE values, but Ti, 3Y-TZP, and PEEK demonstrated more expressed polar parts. All means of roughness were beyond the micro-level and were lower than 0.2 µm. The highest CFUs/mL was assessed on the PMMA and it was significantly different from others, whereas the lowest was on 3Y-TZP. The surface roughness had a significant impact on CFUs/mL growth.

Wettability of a Polymethylmethacrylate Surface by Extended Anionic Surfactants: Effect of Branched Chains

The adsorption behaviors of extended anionic surfactants linear sodium dodecyl(polyoxyisopropene)4 sulfate (L-C12PO4S), branched sodium dodecyl(polyoxyisopropene)4 sulfate (G-C12PO4S), and branched sodium hexadecyl(polyoxyisopropene)4 sulfate (G-C16PO4S) on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) surface have been studied. The effect of branched alkyl chain on the wettability of the PMMA surface has been explored. To obtain the adsorption parameters such as the adhesional tension and PMMA-solution interfacial tension, the surface tension and contact angles were measured. The experimental results demonstrate that the special properties of polyoxypropene (PO) groups improve the polar interactions and allow the extended surfactant molecules to gradually adsorb on the PMMA surface by polar heads. Therefore, the hydrophobic chains will point to water and the solid surface is modified to be hydrophobic. Besides, the adsorption amounts of the three extended anionic surfactants at the PMMA–liquid interface are all about 1/3 of those at the air–liquid interface before the critical micelle concentration (CMC). However, these extended surfactants will transform their original adsorption behavior after CMC. The surfactant molecules will interact with the PMMA surface with the hydrophilic heads towards water and are prone to form aggregations at the PMMA–liquid interface. Therefore, the PMMA surface will be more hydrophilic after CMC. In the three surfactants, the branched G-C16PO4S with two long alkyl chains exhibits the strongest hydrophobic modification capacity. The linear L-C12PO4S is more likely to densely adsorb at the PMMA–liquid interface than the branched surfactants, thus L-C12PO4S possesses the strongest hydrophilic modification ability and shows smaller contact angles on PMMA surface at high concentrations.

Evaluation of Bond Strength and Dimensional Accuracy of Soft Liner to Microwave Cured Denture Base Material

Today, soft liners are being widely used in dental practices by their application to the inner surfaces of the denture with hopes to evenly distribute any potential uneven forces, and to provide a cushion effect to the oral mucosa of the patient mouth. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of (a) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) denture base material curing technique, (b) Molloplast B soft liner curing technique, and (c) PMMA surface treatment, on the “shear bond strength” (SBS) between the Molloplast B liner and PMMA. A total of 80 samples were used in this study to evaluate the SBS performance of microwave (Nature-Cryl, Acron Gc, Japan) and conventional water bath (Ivoclar triplex, Liechtenstein) curing techniques of PMMA, and to evaluate the curing technique of soft liner material Molloplast B (DETAX,GERMANY). Surface treatment of PMMA was performed for half of the samples using neodymium:yttrium aluminum-garnet Nd:YAG laser, and the other half of the samples were surface-treated using AL2O3 sandblasting method. The results showed that the highest mean value in conventional water bath-cured soft liner was 26.69 MPa, whereas the lowest mean value for microwave-cured soft liner was 15.22 MPa. No significant difference was observed between the SBS performance regarding the PMMA surface treatment and curing techniques. Conventional water bath curing technique for soft liner treatment improved the SBS performance. Regarding the PMMA curing technique, the conventional water bath achieved higher SBS, yet the difference was not statistically significant. Finally, surface treatment using laser improved the SBS compared to sandblasted method, but the improvement here was also statistically insignificant.