Comparative analysis of the roughness of acrylic resin materials used in the process of making the bases of dentures and investigation of adhesion of Candida albicans to them - In vitro study

Background. Denture stomatitis mainly concerns the patients who use the full or partial acrylic dentures. Mechanical injury caused by incorrectly matched restorations leads to disorder within one of the main protective barriers of the oral cavity - the mucosa. Then it can become an entry for infection, including Candida species that might lead to denture stomatitis. Thus, not only the optimal chemical composition is sought, but also the best method of polymerization of acrylic resin to minimize its unwanted features. It is expected that the adhesion of microorganisms and the accumulation of denture plaque can, among others, depend on the polymerization method and the roughness of the acrylic resin. Objectives. The aims of this thesis were to compare roughness of chosen materials and to quantitatively compare the adhesion of Candida species to the surface of various materials used to prepare bases of dentures, on the basis of the in vitro studies. Material and Methods. The samples of five acrylic materials with different ways of polymerization process were evaluated. Roughness parameter and the level of adherence of microorganisms were determined for the samples divided in two groups: polished and non-polished. Results. The most rugged material was the cold curing acrylic resin ProBase Cold®. This fact was illustrated by the highest level of microbial adhesion to the surface. The Ivocap High Impact® characterized the greatest decrease of Candida adhesion after the polymerization process. Conclusions. The polishing process reduces both the roughness of a material and the deposition of microorganisms on its surface. It is indicated to make a night-break during the use of acrylic dentures and keep them in dry environment to minimize the possibility of microbial growth on the surface.