Solubility analysis of PMMA in dentistry

The solubility analysis of PMMA in dentistry is as follows:

Solubility: PMMA can be dissolved in organic solvents such as MMA (methyl methacrylate), chloroform, benzene, toluene, dichloroethane, ethyl acetate, and acetone. These solvents can disrupt the intermolecular forces between PMMA molecules, causing them to dissolve.

Response to alcohol and disinfectants: Although alcohol and some disinfectants cannot dissolve PMMA, they can cause fine silver streaks on its surface, making it appear with "white flowers", which affects its performance and lifespan. Therefore, dentures cannot be wiped with alcohol in clinical practice.

Solubility in water: The solubility of PMMA in water is very low. According to industry standards, the dissolution value should not exceed 1.6μg/mm² after 7 days of immersion in water. This means that in daily use, the water absorption of PMMA dentures in the oral cavity is very limited and will not significantly affect their performance due to dissolution.

The influence of cross-linked structure: Some base resins with cross-linked structure (such as those with cross-linking agents added to the water in the dental support) cannot be dissolved by organic solvents, but they can swell. This kind of resin also has good resistance to silver streaks. The cross-linked structure increases the connections between molecular chains, making it more difficult for the solvent to penetrate and dissolve the material.