J Korean Acad Prosthodont.  2024 Apr;62(2):95-103. 10.4047/jkap.2024.62.2.95.

A study of the antifungal properties and flexural strength of 3D printed denture base resin containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles

• Yoon SW
• Cho YE

• KMID: 2555595
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4047/jkap.2024.62.2.95

Abstract

Purpose
. With the advancement of digital technology, 3D printing is being utilized in the fabrication of denture base. Nevertheless, increasing microbial adhesion to the surface of denture base has been reported as the disadvantage of 3D-printed denture base. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antifungal properties and flexural strength of 3D-printed denture base resin according to the different contents of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
Materials and methods
. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were mixed with the 3D printing resin at the ratios of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt%. Twenty specimens per each group were printed in the form of cylindrical shape (diameter: 20 mm, height: 3 mm) to evaluate antifungal properties. Ten specimens from each group underwent polishing using autogrinder, while the remaining ten specimens did not. Candida albicans in hyphae form was inoculated onto each specimen, optical density and colony-forming unit were analyzed. The surface of the specimen was observed using scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate the flexural strength, twenty specimens per each group were 3D printed in the form of rectangular prism shape (length: 64 mm, height: 10 mm, width: 3 mm) and three-point bending tests were conducted using universal testing machine according to ISO 20795-1.
Results
. Colony-forming unit of C.albicans and optical density of culture medium showed no difference between non-polished groups, but decreased in the polished groups at concentration of 1, 1.5, 2 wt% titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Flexural strength increased with titanium dioxide nanoparticle at concentration of 0.5, 1, 1.5 wt%, but decreased at 2 wt% compared to 1.5 wt%.
Conclusion
. When 1.5 wt% of titanium dioxide nanoparticles were added to the 3D-printed denture base resin with polishing, antifungal properties were increased.

Keyword

Colony-forming unit; Denture base; Flexural strength; Three-dimensional printing; Titanium dioxide