RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of aging on the tear strength and cytotoxicity of four soft denture lining materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four commonly used soft denture lining materials, (Coe-Comfort(TM) GC America Inc., Alsip, IL, USA; Coe-Soft(TM) GC America Inc., Alsip, IL, USA; Visco-gel Dentsply Caulk Milford, DE, USA; and Sofreliner Tough M Tokuyama Dental Corporation Tokyo, Japan) were selected. Sixty trouser-leg designed specimens per lining material were fabricated using a stainless steel mold for tear strength testing. The specimens were divided into non-thermocycling and 1000-, and 3000- thermocycling groups. For the cytotoxicity test, twenty-four disk shaped specimens per material were fabricated using a stainless steel mold. The specimens were soaked in normal saline solution for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Cytotoxicity was measured by XTT assay in L929 mouse fibroblasts. Data were analyzed by two way analysis of variance and Dunnett's test (P<.05). RESULTS: Before thermocycling, Sofreliner Tough M (10.36 +/- 1.00 N) had the highest tear strength value while Coe-Comfort(TM) (0.46 +/- 0.10 N) had the lowest. After 3000 cycles, Sofreliner Tough M (9.65 +/- 1.66 N) presented the highest value and Coe-Comfort(TM) (0.42 +/- 0.08 N) the lowest. Sofreliner Tough M, in all incubation periods was the least toxic with significant differences compared to all other materials (P<.05). Coe-Comfort(TM), Coe-Soft(TM), and Sofreliner Tough M did not show any significant differences within their material group for all incubation periods. CONCLUSION: This in vitro study revealed that aging can affect both the tear strength and cytotoxicity of soft denture materials depending on the composition.