PurposeTo evaluate and compare the mechanical properties (flexural strength and surface hardness) of different materials and technologies for denture base fabrication. The study emphasized the digital technologies of computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and three‐dimensional (3D) printing.Materials and MethodsA total of 160 rectangular specimens were fabricated from three conventional heat‐polymerized (ProBase Hot, Paladon 65, and Interacryl Hot), three CAD/CAM produced (IvoBase CAD, Interdent CC disc PMMA, and Polident CAD/CAM disc), one 3D‐printed (NextDent Base), and one polyamide material (Vertex ThermoSens) for denture base fabrication. The flexural strength test was the three‐point flexure test, while hardness testing was conducted using the Brinell method. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (α = 0.05).ResultsDuring flexural testing, the IvoBase CAD and Vertex ThermoSens specimens did not fracture during loading. The flexural strength values of the other groups ranged from 71.7 ± 7.4 MPa to 111.9 ± 4.3 MPa. The surface hardness values ranged from 67.13 ± 10.64 MPa to 145.66 ± 2.22 MPa. There were significant differences between the tested materials for both flexural strength and surface hardness. There were also differences between some materials with the same polymerization type. CAD/CAM and polyamide materials had the highest flexural strength values. Two groups of CAD/CAM materials had the highest surface hardness values, while a third, along with the polyamide material, had the lowest. The 3D‐printed materials had the lowest flexural strength values.ConclusionsGenerally, CAD/CAM materials show better mechanical properties than heat‐polymerized and 3D‐printed acrylics do. Nevertheless, a material's polymerization type is no guarantee of its optimal mechanical properties.

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Dentists and dental students can be exposed to the human immunodeiciency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) during routine work. The aims of this study were to assess a group of dental students' knowledge about HIV, HBV, and HCV infections; assess their attitudes and risk perceptions about the treatment of patients with HIV, HBV, and HCV; and identify factors associated with their knowledge and willingness to treat these patients. An anonymous survey was administered to 534 predoctoral students at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia. The response rate was 71.9 percent. Students' knowledge increased with each year of study. Senior students (in their third, fourth, and ifth years) had more professional attitudes and were signiicantly more positive about dentists' professional obligation to treat patients who are HIV-positive than were junior students (in their irst and second years; p=0.0002). Senior students also expressed signiicantly more willingness to treat intravenous drug users and patients with hepatitis (p=0.016 and p=0.033, respectively). Female students were signiicantly more convinced than male students that routine dental treatment carried a signiicant risk of HIV and hepatitis infection (p=0.025). These students' knowledge negatively correlated with the lack of willingness to treat intravenous drug users and patients with hepatitis, and they expressed their willingness to receive further theoretical and practical education on this topic.

Results suggest that condylar movement in the sagittal direction is not uniform. Mean left and mean right condylar inclination values do not necessarily describe the actual condylar path, nor do they give adequate information for articulator setup. Left-right side condylar inclination differences greater than 10 degrees can be considered as normal.

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to establish the subjective perception of dental medicine students' knowledge and skills in prosthodontics and to determine both how their perception changed during their study, by gaining clinical experience. Also, the aim was to investigate if there were any socio-demographic factors that influenced students' perception.MethodsThe research, based on an anonymous survey for dental medicine students was carried out at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb in 2015. YES/NO/DO NOT KNOW questions were used for assessment of students' knowledge, and a 50 mm visual analog scale was used for assessment of their abilities and skills. The Chi-square test, t-test for independent samples, analysis of variance and the Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for statistical data analysis.ResultsStudents' response (4th, 5th and 6th year of study) to the study amounted to 71,3%. The results showed that clinical experience and the number of correct answers from knowledge assessment increased with the year of study. Students with completed dental laboratory technician school took statistically significantly larger number of impressions and fabricated a significantly larger number of fixed restorations. Additionally, the results showed a significantly higher level of agreement with the statements about their perception of knowledge and skills.ConclusionStudents' perceptions on learning positively correlated with the number of completed semesters in prosthodontics and the students’ own clinical experience.