Context- Many in vitro studies described methods to reinforce single maxillary complete dentures. No study have yet compared and evaluated the reinforcing effects of fibre and metal reinforced denture with simulated oral conditions to fracture these dentures and also to compare these meshes in clinical cases of maxillary edentulous arches.
Purpose-The purpose of this study was to see better strengthening options for single maxillary reinforced dentures using three different reinforcements in ideally fabricated dentures and in different clinical cases of maxillary edentulous arches.
Materials and Methodology-Ideal maxillary dentures were reinforced with SES (Group-A), Glass cloth, GC2 (Group-B) and Metal mesh (Group-C). These groups along with Non reinforced control group (Group-D) with a sample size of 10 per group, were compared to assess mechanical properties of dentures and results were analyzed using ANOVA and Post Hoc Tukey Test. Ten reinforced dentures per group were also delivered to the patients.
Results- Fracture load of Group A was significantly higher than Group B [p=0.017] and D [p<.001] but not significantly higher than Group C [p=0.977]. Elastic modulus of Group A and B were found to be nearly same (p=0.183) but was greater than that of Group C and D (p=0.12 and 0.21, respectively). Toughness of Group A was found to be highest amongst all groups.
Conclusions- All reinforced groups showed greater fracture resistance, elastic modulus and toughness than control group. In clinical scenarios, SES mesh showed ease of manipulation, adaption in deep palatal cases, light weight and good esthetics followed by GC 2 mesh.
