Development of a radiopaque, autopolymerizing dental acrylic resin.

Current prosthetic acrylic resins are radiolucent and cannot be imaged using standard radiographic techniques. If accidentally impacted or ingested, delays in localizing or removing the foreign body may be life-threatening. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an experimental radiopaque additive, triphenyl bismuth (TPB), on polymethyl methacrylate resins formulated for dental use. We also investigated methods to improve TPB-containing resin microbeads and optimize processing variables for specimen fabrication in autopolymerizing resin systems. Selfcured samples of experimental resins were prepared containing 0% to 27% TPB and were tested according to American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association and International Organization for Standardization performance standards. A control group and two commercial provisional crown and bridge resins were used for comparison. The standard of radiopacity (> or = aluminum radiopacity) is met at TPB levels of > or = 14.5%. The control resin had a greater transverse deflection compared with the TPB-resin groups, but deflection was within standard limits for all resins. Polishability, color stability, and solubility were unaffected by TPB, whereas sorption decreased, although not significantly, at higher TPB levels. Translucency decreased at 27% TPB, and specimens containing 0% to 20% TPB were transparent. A tendency to entrain air bubbles, because of the hydrophobicity of TPB, resulted in increased susceptibility to brittle failure at the higher TPB levels. Solubility slightly exceeded American Dental Association standards for all TPB-resins and the control. All other performance standards were acceptable for resins containing 0% to 20% TPB. At concentrations that provide a diagnostic level of radiopacity, TPB does not significantly alter required performance and processing properties. Thus, TPB is capable of commercially acceptable performance as a radiopacifying additive for dental acrylics.