Shear bond strengths for composite and autopolymerized acrylic resins bonded to acrylic resin denture teeth

Statement of problem. Composite has been used to modify acrylic resin denture teeth. Purpose. This in vitro investigation examined the shear bond strengths between composite and autopolymerized acrylic resin bonded to acrylic resin denture teeth. Material and methods. The surface treatments used for the denture teeth included wetting with methyl methacrylate (MMA), vinylethyl methacrylate monomer (VEMA), unfilled liquid resin, composite bonding agent, and composite color modifier. Nonhydrated and hydrated denture tooth groups were included. A commercial composite was bonded to the denture teeth. The control group consisted of autopolymerized PMMA resin bonded to the acrylic resin denture teeth, and another group consisted of polyvinylethyl methacrylate bonded to acrylic resin denture teeth. The samples were thermocycled and tested in shear. Results. Acrylic resin denture teeth prewetted with MMA and treated with unfilled resin or a bonding agent had bond strength values comparable to the control group. VEMA was not as effective in promoting the bond. Composite color modifier did not produce a significantly weaker bond between the acrylic resin teeth and added composite. No prewetting of the teeth with MMA resulted in the lowest bond strength. Mean shear bond strengths for corresponding hydrated and non-hydrated groups were not significantly different. Conclusion. Bond strength of composite-to-acrylic resin denture teeth was comparable to the bond strength of autopolymerized acrylic resin. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;82:573-8.)