The Effects of a Denture Cleanser on the Surface Roughness of Heat-Cured and Cold-Cured Acrylic Resins

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of one denture cleanser on the surface roughness of heat-cured and cold-cured acrylic resin materials. Materials and Methods: Two acrylic resin materials (one heat cured and one cold cured) were used in this study. Twenty diskshaped specimens (10 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick) were prepared from each resin, polished, and stored in water at 37 degrees C for 48 hours. Disinfection methods included immersion in an alkaline peroxide effervescent denture cleanser for 5 minutes and then immersion in water at 37 degrees C. The disinfection procedures were repeated 60 times in 6 days before submitting the specimens to surface roughness measurements. Control specimens (not disinfected) were kept in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 6 days before undergoing surface roughness tests. Statistical analyses of data were conducted with an ANOVA and a Tukey post hoc test (alpha=0.05). Results: Cold-cured acrylic resin test specimens showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher surface roughness values than the heatcured resin specimens, regardless of immersion procedure. No significant change in surface roughness was observed in the heat-cured resin specimens after immersion in the denture cleanser (from 0.061 +/- 0.013 to 0.063 +/- 0.08 mu m). A small, but significant (p < 0.01), decrease in surface roughness value (from 0.120 +/- 0.015 to 0.094 +/- 0.012 mu m) was observed in the coldcured acrylic resin specimens. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, cold-cured acrylic resin specimens exhibited significantly lower surface roughness values after immersion in the denture cleanser used. Heat-cured acrylic specimens were not affected by the immersion.