Denture Cleanser's Effect on Impact Strength of Heat Cured Acrylic

Background: A chemical immersed denture cleanser is the most widely used method by patients to maintain a clean and healthy denture, but the use of such a cleanser may have harmful effect on the denture base materials. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of two prepared cleansers (4% tartaric acid & 4% sodium bicarbonate) solutions, and one commercially cleanser (Lacalut dent) on the impact strength of heat cure acrylic denture base material. Methods: Forty specimens of heat cured acrylic with dimensions (55mm length* 10mm width* 5mm thickness) were prepared and divided into four subgroups, 10 specimens for each, according to the type of denture cleanser solution, (distilled water as a control group, solution of tartaric acid, solution of sodium bicarbonate, Lacalut dent solution). All the specimens in the four groups were immersed in the solutions and kept in an incubator at 37oC all the time between each soaking till the measurements were done. The testing machine was a Charpy type machine tester. Conclusions: The conventional heat cured acrylic cannot be safely soaked in (4% tartaric acid) which contains isopropyl alcohol because it decreases the impact strength, so it is advised not to use solutions containing alcohol as acrylic denture cleansers. Lacalut dent which is an oxygenating commercial denture cleanser had the lowest adverse effects on the impact strength of heat cured acrylic. Practical implications: It is advisable not to use a cleanser of (4% tartaric acid) which contains isopropyl alcohol because it decreases the impact strength. Lacalut dent is the best among the solutions used in this study.