Evaluation of antifungal activity of methacrylic acid incorporated in conventional heat-activated resins

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of heat-activated denture base resins modified with different concentrations of methacrylic acid (MAA). Materials and methods: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer of heat-activated resins was modified with different concentrations of MAA (0, 15, 20, and 25%) for the preparation of specimens to evaluate antifungal activity of heat-activated resins. Prepared specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 1 day and 1 week before the evaluation of microbial adhesion. Microbial adhesion of Candida albicans cells to acrylic samples was examined under light microscopy after Gram staining of all the acrylic samples. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance followed by post-hoc Tukey’s honest significant difference test. A value of p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Addition of MAA to the MMA monomer was found to significantly reduce the adhesion of C. albicans for all the groups. Reduction of C. albicans cell adherence was found significant for all three groups (I, II, and III) as compared to control, both at 1 day (p < 0.001) and 1 week (p < 0.001) after storage in distilled water. Conclusion: Addition of MAA to conventional denture base formulations reduced the adhesion of C. albicans. This method of incorporating antifungal property to denture base resins can effectively be used to reduce denture stomatitis in elderly and immunocompromised patients.