Abstract
The surface relief map changes induced by methyl methacrylate (MMA) chemical treatment to the flat ridge lap area of the acrylic teeth in order to improve the bond strength to the denture base resin acrylic tooth interface, was investigated with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a classical non-invasive investigation method. The ridge lap area of 20 artificial acrylic molars was milled to flat. The samples were randomly assigned in two experimental groups, ten samples pertaining to each one of the groups. The flat surfaces of the acrylic molars were submitted to a different treatment. Group 1: (control group), no chemical treatment; Group 2: Chemical treatment with methyl methacrylate. Each specimen was submitted to SEM investigation with SEM: HITACHI TM3000 Scanning Electron Microscope. The SEM imaging captured data depicted obvious changes of the surface relief aspect of the samples treated with methyl methacrylate compared to control group. Acrylic teeth chemical treatment with methyl metahcrylate generates surface topography changes, visible in SEM imaging, topography aspects responsible for the improved adhesion of acrylic teeth to denture base resin.
Keywords: acrylic teeth; methyl methacrylate; non-invasive investigation; scanning electron microscopy