Antibacterial Efficacy of Artemisia Extract and White Vinegar as Disinfectants for Acrylic Prostheses Fabricated Using Conventional and CAD/CAM Techniques: An In Vitro Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba extract and white vinegar as natural disinfectants against Staphylococcus aureus on computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-milled and heat-polymerized denture base resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty acrylic resin blocks were prepared and divided into two main groups (n = 30 each): CAD/CAM-milled and heat-polymerized acrylic resin. The blocks were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a patient with denture-related stomatitis and immersed for 60 min in one of three solutions: Artemisia herba-alba extract, white vinegar, or distilled water (negative control). Antibacterial efficacy was assessed by quantifying colony forming units (CFUs) using the viable count method. RESULTS: A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that both Artemisia herba-alba extract and white vinegar significantly lowered CFU counts relative to the control (p < 0.05) across both material groups. Notably, the Artemisia herba-alba extract exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy compared to white vinegar, yielding log reductions of 4.11 and 3.42 in heat-polymerized and CAD/CAM acrylic specimens, respectively. In contrast, white vinegar produced more modest log reductions of 1.81 and 1.20, respectively. Under the studied conditions, heat-polymerized acrylic consistently demonstrated slightly higher bacterial reduction than CAD/CAM acrylic. CONCLUSION: Both Artemisia herba-alba extract and white vinegar demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus on removable denture base materials, with the extract demonstrating superior potency. While heat-polymerized acrylic showed slightly higher bacterial reduction than CAD/CAM acrylic, both material types responded positively to the tested disinfecting agents. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that Artemisia herba-alba extract and white vinegar are effective natural disinfectants against Staphylococcus aureus associated with denture materials. It supports their use as low-cost natural alternatives for managing denture stomatitis and improving denture hygiene. Alternatively, it highlights their potential as low-cost natural alternatives for improving denture hygiene and warrants further investigation regarding clinical applicability and long-term safety.