RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of acrylic resins at different aging times for denture bases manufactured using the conventional method, microwave processing, milling, and 3D printing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 160 rectangular samples (64 Å~ 10 Å~ 3.3 ± 0.03 mm) were prepared, divided among the four main resin groups, and subdivided into four analysis times (T0, T1, T2, and T3), resulting in 10 samples per subgroup. The samples were stored in distilled water at 37° ± 2°C for 24 hours (T0), then subjected to thermocycling at temperatures of 5° ± 1°C and 55° ± 1°C in different numbers of cycles: 5,000 (T1); 10,000 (T2); and 20,000 (T3). The mechanical properties evaluated were surface microhardness, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity. Statistical differences between resin groups and aging time were evaluated using two-way analysis of variance (P < .05). RESULTS: The 3D-printed resin showed the significantly lowest values of microhardness, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity compared to other resins (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The CAD/CAM-milled denture resin showed mechanical properties similar to those of traditional resins (conventional and microwave-processed). The 3D-printing resin did not show adequate mechanical properties for long-term clinical use. Despite this, new studies are developing better properties of this resin for long-term use.
