Comparative evaluation of flexural strength of heat polymerized polymethylmethacrylate denture base material reinforced with silanized titanium dioxide nanoparticles and silanized aluminium oxide nanoparticles–An in vitro study

: he denture base, which supports artificial teeth and rests on the oral mucosa, is commonly made from Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), introduced by Dr. Walter Wright in 1937. PMMA is popular for its ease of processing, low cost, light weight, and aesthetic appeal, but it has drawbacks such as low mechanical strength, brittleness, and a high coefficient of thermal expansion, leading to fractures, particularly under functional stress. Research has focused on incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles into PMMA to improve its mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity. To assess and compare the flexural strength of heat polymerized polymethyl methacrylate denture base material reinforced with 1% silanized aluminium oxide nanoparticles and 3% silanized titanium dioxide nanoparticles to that of heat polymerized polymethyl methacrylate denture base material. : Total 90 specimens were prepared, 30 each for PMM denture base material without reinforcement (group C), PMM reinforced with 1% Aluminium oxide nanoparticles (group A) and PMM reinforced with 3% Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (group T) respectively. Flexural strength was tested with universal testing machine at a 5mm/minute crosshead speed. Flexural strength testing on specimens showed a highly significant difference across the three groups (p < 0.0001). Significant differences were found between Group C and both Group A (p < 0.000001) and Group T (p < 0.000001), while no significant difference was observed between Group A and Group T (p = 0.647). Reinforcement with nanoparticles increased the flexural strength, with 1% silanized aluminium oxide nanoparticles showing a highly significant improvement. However, no significant difference was found between specimens reinforced with 1% silanized aluminium oxide (Group A) and 3% silanized titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Group T).