Introduction: In Slovenia, as many as 80% of the population faces partial toothlessness, and 5% of the population faces complete toothlessness. According to the results of the research, there will be an increasing number of elderly people and the demand for prosthesis will increase. Practice has shown that total prosthesis is not a lifelong solution, as it is subject to aging, but still represents the most common form of prosthetic care for a toothless patient. Defects such as porosity and shrinkage occur in the process of making a total prosthesis. During the use of the prosthesis, these defects affect the nature and course of aging processes, which in the oral cavity are largely dependent on stress and hidrophilicity. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma work is to understand how the microstructure of acrylate, which is subject to the aging process in the oral cavity, changes. Based on this, we want to define which type of tested acrylate is most resistant to the inevitable aging process. Methods: In the theoretical part of the diploma work the descriptive method is used. We sought information in professional articles and scientific journals. In the practical part of the diploma work the experimental method is used. In the laboratory, we prepared samples of three different types of acrylate and exposed them to the aging process. Results: An experiment confirms that the mechanical properties of acrylate deteriorate due to the effects of aging. The microstructure of ProBase Cold was found to have the longest cracks in the raw state and Ivocap the shortest. In the raw state, the results of bending tests also differ between different types of acrylate. It was found that Ivocap withstood the maximum average load force in the raw state. The lowest average load force in the raw state was shown by the ProBase Cold. In this diploma work, we found that the number and length of cracks in the microstructure of aged subjects increased significantly. The values of the maximum loads that the material can withstand also change in aged materials. It was found that less force is required to break down aged acrylate compared to non-aged acrylate. It means that prosthetic replacements are more fragile after repeated use. Conclusion: Aging is an inevitable process that undoubtedly also affects acrylate, which is the basic component of a total denture. The aging can be seen with the naked eye in the change of color and shape. However, aging can be observed more deeply, from the point of view of microstructure. It has been found that with aging, acrylate also changes its microstructure and mechanical properties. In the microstructure more defects are presented and the acrylate no longer withstands such high loads as in the raw state. We can not escape the aging of acrylate, but we can understand its nature and course better.
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