Effect of argon plasma and Er:YAG laser on tensile bond strength between denture liner and acrylic resin

Statement of problem. The separation of a denture liner from the denture base can be a clinical problem. Different surface treatments to increase the bond have been evaluated, but studies comparing the effect of argon plasma and erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser on the bond between acrylic resin and a denture liner are lacking. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of argon plasma and Er:YAG laser treatments on the bond strengths of acrylic resin to 2 denture liners. Materials and methods. Heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Acron Duo) was bonded to silicone soft-liner materials (Molloplast B, n=30; Mollosil, n=30) to create control specimens (n=10), argon plasma treatment (n=10), and Er:YAG laser treatment (n=10). Silicone liners were polymerized on resin specimens. The tensile bond strength test was performed with a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min with a 10-N load until failure. Data were analyzed by using the Kruskal-Wallis test and unpaired t test (alpha=.05). Results. The laser group showed significantly higher bond strength than the argon plasma group for both Molloplast-B (P=.001) and Mollosil (P<.001). The highest tensile bond strength values were determined in the laser-treated Molloplast-B group (1.325 +/- 0.119 MPa) while the lowest bond strength values were determined in the Mollosil control group (0.384 +/- 0.018 MPa). Conclusions. Argon plasma and Er:YAG laser applications increases the tensile bond strength between soft-liner material and resin. Er:YAG laser treatment results in higher bond strength values than treatment with argon plasma for 1 minute.