Self‐cleaning effects of acrylic resin containing fluoridated apatite‐coated titanium dioxide

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>Specific materials when used in the manufacture of dentures can enhance the elimination of micro‐organisms to promote oral hygiene. We used <jats:italic>Candida albicans</jats:italic> adhesion assays, methylene blue (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MB</jats:styled-content>)‐decomposition tests and mechanical property tests to evaluate the photocatalytic properties of acrylic resin containing fluoridated apatite‐coated titanium dioxide (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">FA</jats:styled-content>p‐TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) after treatment with ultraviolet A (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UVA</jats:styled-content>) irradiation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Conventional denture cleaning methods are unable to completely eliminate micro‐organisms from dentures.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and methods</jats:title><jats:p>Test specimens were prepared using acrylic resin containing three types of TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> powder [<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">FA</jats:styled-content>p‐TiO<jats:sub>2,</jats:sub> titanium dioxide (TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) and hydroxyapatite‐coated TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HA</jats:styled-content>p‐TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>)]; <jats:italic>n </jats:italic>=<jats:italic> </jats:italic>96. In the adhesion assay, test specimens were incubated in a fungal suspension and subjected to <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UVA</jats:styled-content> irradiation, and the number of attachments of <jats:italic>C. albicans</jats:italic> on the test specimens was counted. The <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MB</jats:styled-content>‐decomposition test and the three‐point bending test were then performed to assess the photocatalytic effects of the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">FA</jats:styled-content>p‐TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐containing acrylic resin.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Fluoridated apatite‐coated titanium dioxide‐containing acrylic resin demonstrated superior effectiveness in inhibiting <jats:italic>C. albicans</jats:italic> adherence as well as in decomposing <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">MB</jats:styled-content>. In the three‐point bending test, the resin showed a smaller decrease in flexural strength compared with TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐ or <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HA</jats:styled-content>p‐TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>‐containing acrylic resin. Furthermore, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">UVA</jats:styled-content> irradiation for 360 h did not significantly influence its flexural strength or elasticity modulus as compared with the control; this fulfils the requirements of International Organization for Standardization 1567:1999.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Fluoridated apatite‐coated titanium dioxide‐containing acrylic resin is a clinically suitable material that promotes proper denture hygiene, particularly for elderly persons requiring nursing care or who have a decreased ability to perform normal activities of daily living.</jats:p></jats:sec>