Surface roughness on retention of complete dentures using conventional and digital techniques: An in vitro study

Surface roughness of denture bases plays a crucial role in mucosal sealing and biofilm accumulation, directly impacting denture retention. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the effect of surface roughness on retention across three fabrication methods: conventional heat-polymerized PMMA, CAD/CAM milling, and 3D printing. Surface roughness and retention forces were measured and analyzed. CAD/CAM-milled dentures showed the smoothest surfaces and highest retention. A strong inverse correlation between roughness and retention was observed.