Effect of toothbrushing, chemical disinfection and thermocycling procedures on the surface microroughness of denture base acrylic resins.

OBJECTIVE: This study verified the surface microroughness of denture acrylic resins submitted to toothbrushing, chemical disinfection and thermocycling procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were prepared according to conventional, microwaved and boiled resins and submitted to microroughness measurements before and after procedures using a profilometer (Ra). Data were subjected to anova and Tukey's test (5%). RESULTS: Before thermocycling, a difference was found among treatments for microwaved and boiled resins, with greater values for toothbrushing and lower values for Efferdent and hypochlorite; control was intermediate. Differences among resins were observed for treatments, with higher values for boiled resin and lower values for conventional and microwaved resins. After thermocycling, differences were found for microwaved resin, with a higher value for toothbrushing and a lower value for Efferdent and hypochlorite; control was intermediate. Tooth-brushed boiled resin presented higher values and hypochlorite lower values; control and Efferdent were intermediates. Differences among resins were seen for treatments, with higher values for boiled resin and lower values for conventional and microwaved resins. Boiled resin presented differences for toothbrushing and hypochlorite, before and after thermocycling procedures were compared. CONCLUSIONS: For microwaved and boiled resins, toothbrushing and chemical disinfection promoted different levels of surface microroughness when associated or not with thermocycling.

Effect of flask closure method and post-pressing time on the upper denture base adaptation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of flask-closure methods, post-pressing times and acrylic resins on denture base adaptation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The resins were flasked using a hydraulic press and closed with the traditional clamp or RS system. Conventional heat-cure resin was polymerised immediately or at 6 h post-pressing at 74 degrees C for 9 h. Rapid cycle heat-cure resin was polymerised in boiling water for 20 min. After cooling, the bases were deflasked and the sets of cast-base transversally sectioned in the regions distal to the canine, mesial to the first molar and in the posterior palatal zone. The adaptation was measured with an optical microscope (0.0005 mm) at five reference points for each section. Data were analysed using anova and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Traditional clamp and immediate post-pressing time improved base adaptation for conventional heat-cure resin. Both post-pressing times showed most accurate base adaptation for conventional heat-cure resin when the traditional clamp was used. Immediate post-pressing time improved base adaptation for conventional heat-cure resin and the 6-h delay in time was significant for the rapid cycle heat-cure resin. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional clamp and immediate post-pressing time improved base adaptation for conventional heat-cure resin.