Aims: To investigate the effects of silver nanoparticles on the flexural strength of three commercial heat-cure denture base materials such as Lucitone199, Trevlon, and TriplexHot. Methodology: A total of 150 specimens were fabricated and assigned equally among the three selected denture base resin products. Samples in each denture base resin product were distributed among control, 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt% 2.0 wt% and 5.0 wt% AgNPs added to the acrylic powder prior to the processing. Specimens without silver nanoparticles are considered as control group. Flexural strength was measured using three point bending method using universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 2 mm per minute. Results: One way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were used to analyse the results. Control group exhibited superior flexural strength whereas flexural strength of the specimens decreased with the increasing concentration of silver nanoparticles. Conclusion: Incorporation of silver nanoparticles decrease the flexural strength of heat cure denture base materials and the flexural strength was influenced by the concentration of nanoparticles.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA), a widely used monomer in dentistry and medicine has been reported to cause abnormalities or lesions in several organs. Experimental and clinical studies have documented that monomers may cause a wide range of adverse health effects such as irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, allergic dermatitis, stomatitis, asthma, neuropathy, disturbances of the central nervous system, liver toxicity, and fertility disturbances.