An evaluation of self-cured and visible light-cured denture base materials when used as a denture base repair material.

The aim of this study was to compare some of the physical properties of a heat-cured, a self-cured and a visible light-cured acrylic resin, and to evaluate the suitability of visible light-cured resin as a repair material for dentures made of heat-cured acrylic resin. Transverse strength, surface hardness and impact strength were determined for the three materials and the efficiencies of light-cured and self-cured resins, when used as a repair material, were evaluated by testing the transverse strength of repaired heat-cured specimens 1 hour, 1 week and 1 month after repair. The results showed that the rigidity of specimens repaired with light-cured resin improved with longer water storage. However, their transverse strength reached a maximum after one day and was reduced after 1 month. The rigidity and transverse strength of specimens repaired with self-cured resin were not influenced significantly by water storage and the transverse strength was significantly higher than the light-cured repaired specimens.