Opacifiers on color stability of maxillofacial silicone under aging and Indian weathering conditions: An in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Resistance to long-term color change is a desirable property for facial prosthetic elastomers. Evidence for the color stability of maxillofacial silicones under aging and hot and humid Indian weathering conditions is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of adding opacifiers on the color stability of maxillofacial silicone under human aging and Indian weather conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 93 specimen disks were obtained from the A-2186, platinum-based, room-temperature vulcanized, maxillofacial silicone elastomer by using a Ø30×6-mm stainless-steel die. The specimens were divided into 3 main groups (n=30), C (control), T (titanium dioxide), and B (barium sulfate), and 1 additional specimen (n=1) from each group was stored in a closed box and further subgrouped as outdoor weathering (COut, TOut, BOut), acidic perspiration (CAcid, TAcid, BAcid), sebum (CSebum, TSebum, BSebum) (n=10), and visual comparison (CVis, TVis, BVis) (n=1). Baseline L∗, a∗, b∗ values were recorded by using a spectrophotometer and visual perception. The specimens were subjected to human and extraoral aging conditions, and the values were recorded again after 6 months. Data were analyzed statistically by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc analysis with the Tukey post hoc test. RESULTS: In group C, the mean color change for COut was 3.69 ±0.49; CAcid, 3.58 ±0.68; and CSebum, 7.53 ±0.22 (P<.001). In group T, the mean color change for TOut was 2.60 ±0.24; TAcid, 2.35 ±0.13; and TSebum, 4.91 ±0.44 (P<.001). In group B, BOut was 1.59 ±0.28, BAcid was 1.46 ±0.28, and BSebum was 4.03 ±0.71 (P<.001). The specimens containing barium sulfate showed the maximum color stability. The least color stability was observed in all specimens exposed to sebum solution and was significantly different (P<.001) from the outdoor weather and acidic perspiration specimens. Visually perceivable color changes were observed in specimens exposed to the sebum solution. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of titanium dioxide and barium sulfate as opacifiers resulted in clinically acceptable color change when exposed to outdoor weathering and acidic perspiration but not in sebum solution.

Comparative evaluation of three types of denture base materials with saliva substitute before and after thermocycling: An in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Xerostomia refers to the decrease in the quality and quantity of saliva. In denture wearers, xerostomia affects the retention of the denture because of lack of wettability of the denture base. However, which denture base resin materials are best wetted by artificial salivary substitutes is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the wetting properties of 3 different commercially available denture base resin materials with artificial salivary substitute by using contact angle measurements and to compare these properties before and after thermocycling. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total 120 specimens were fabricated with 3 different denture base materials (n=40): heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate (DenTek), injection-molded nylon polyamide (Valplast), and microwave polymerized (VIPI WAVE). The advancing and receding contact angles were measured with a goniometer by using the WinDrop++ software program. The contact angle hysteresis was calculated from the advancing and receding contact angles values. The same specimens were subjected to thermocycling to measure the advancing and receding contact angles values. The comparative evaluation was carried out before and after thermocycling. RESULTS: The mean ±standard deviation contact angles of the microwave-polymerized material were (62.40 ±1.21 degrees) advancing contact angle, (32.12 ±0.66 degrees) receding contact angle, and (30.28 ±1.40 degrees) contact angle of hysteresis. It was followed by the injection-molded nylon polyamide material, whose mean ±standard deviation contact angle values were (68.57 ±1.72 degrees) advancing contact angle, (43.02 ±1.39 degrees) receding contact angle, (26.27 ±2.05 degrees) contact angle hysteresis and high impact strength heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate material, whose mean ±standard deviation contact angle values were (69.81 ±0.16 degrees) advancing contact angle, (41.90 ±1.02 degrees) receding contact angle, and (27.91 ±0.97 degrees) contact angle hysteresis. The statistical analysis showed significant differences among contact angle values of the microwave-polymerized material as compared with the heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate and injection-molded nylon polyamide materials (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The microwave-polymerized material showed better wettability with artificial saliva substitute than heat-polymerized polymethylmethacrylate and injection-molded nylon polyamide.