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Dental Treatment 2018 Dentistry and Craniofacial Research
ISSN: 2576-392X Page 23
September 10-11, 2018
Zurich, Switzerland
25th International Conference on
Dental Treatment
Natural fibres such as Hibiscus sabdariffa have become
popular in reinforcing polymers due to their high toughness
and strength. The low specific gravity, low abrasion, nontoxicity,
renewability, availability, and environmentally friendly
characteristics have promoted its use in the reinforcement
of polymers. Despite Hibiscus sabdariffa being versatile
and abundant, there is limited evidence of its use in Dental
Technology, specifically in the reinforcement of denture base
acrylics. This paper examines the hardness and wear resistance
of Hibiscus sabdariffa fibre reinforced poly (methyl methacrylate)
(PMMA) denture bases. An experimental research design within a
quantitative framework was used. Two sample groups of PMMA
specimens were prepared namely, the control (without fibres) and
the test (7.5 weight% fibres). There were 27 PMMA specimens
in each sample group. The surface hardness of the PMMA
specimens (n=17 per group) were measured using a Barcol
Impressor (Model GYZJ-934-1 from Barber-Colman Company).
The specific wear rate was measured using a pin-on-disc set-up
under ambient conditions at 200 g (n=5 per group) and 500 g (n=5
per group) fixed loads with a speed of 300 rpm for 60 seconds.
Analysis of the results was obtained using a one-way ANOVA, an
independent t-test and Mann Whitney test (p<0.05). While there
were no significant differences in the hardness value (p<0.707)
and the specific wear rate at 200 g load (p<0.156), the specific
wear rate at 500 g load (p<0.044) between the two sample groups
were significantly different. Results showed that mercerizing and
pre-impregnating Hibiscus sabdariffa fibres potentially improves
the wear resistance of PMMA denture bases, however, not the
overall hardness. Using natural fibres to improve the mechanical
properties of PMMA denture bases aligns with South Africa’s
national development plan, specifically in terms of using natural
resources to promote a greener and sustainable environment.
Biography
Anisa Vahed obtained her doctorate in 2014. She is a HELTASA TAU Fellow,
awardee of the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, DENTASA
Educator of the Year Award and the HELTASA/CHE Award in Teaching Ex-
cellence. Dr Vahed is a senior lecturer/dental technologist in the Department
of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of
Technology. Her research interests include the teaching and supervision of
both undergraduate and postgraduate research, metallographic structure of
newly developed dental materials, and the teaching and learning through
discipline-specific games to enable students’ access to, and acquisition of,
knowledge. She has delivered numerous papers, workshops and seminars
on these interests in a range of national and international settings. Dr Vahed
serves on the South African Dental Technicians Council, which is a Ministe-
rial appointment.
Shalini Singh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Operations and
Quality Management at the Durban University of Technology. Her qualifica-
tions are in Chemistry and Quality. She has also lectured at Universities in
Switzerland, Germany and India. Shalini also serves as a moderator, exam-
iner and supervisor at DUT and in a number of universities in South Africa
and was a member of the Higher Education Quality Forum for Quality. She
chaired the regional branch for the Southern African Society for Quality. Prof
Singh has published posters and publications in international conferences,
has several publications in accredited academic journals, and presented in
Air pollution, Quality, Nanotechnology and Research Methodology related
conferences nationally and internationally. She co-authored many chapters
of books in Nanotechnology, Research Supervision and Work-Integrated
Learning. Shalini hosts a research group focussing on quality practices in
Nano-engineering material (NEM) and food security.
Hibiscus sabdariffanatural fibres as an alternate material in
reinforcing acrylic denture bases
A Vahed1, S Singh 1 and K Okeke2
1Durban University of Technology, South Africa
2Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
A Vahed et al., J Dent Craniofac Res 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2576-392X-C3-008