Hardness and surface roughness of differently processed denture base acrylic resins after immersion in simulated gastric acid

Abstract

Statement of problemThe effect of gastric acid on the surface properties of denture base acrylic resin is unknown. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate changes in the surface roughness and hardness of denture base acrylic resins after immersion in simulated gastric acid. Material and methodsAcrylic resin specimens (n=10) were prepared with 3 different processing techniques (compression-molded, injection-molded, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing [CAD-CAM] milled) and exposed to either gastric acid or artificial saliva (control). Surface roughness and hardness were measured at baseline (T0) and after 24-hour (T24) and 96-hour (T96) immersion in the solutions. The surface roughness and hardness data were analyzed by 3-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (α=.05). ResultsAt T24, the greatest change in surface hardness was observed for compression-molded specimens in gastric acid (P<.05). At T96, changes in hardness values were higher in compression-molded specimens than those in milled specimens (P<.05). Regarding surface roughness, at T24, compression-molded and injection-molded specimens showed higher values than milled specimens in gastric acid (P<.05). Concerning specimens in artificial saliva, compression-molded specimens showed significantly higher changes in roughness than those of the others (P<.05). At T96, injection-molded specimens had the greatest roughness values (P<.05). Among specimens immersed in artificial saliva, milled specimens showed lower roughness values than the injection-molded or compression-molded specimens (P<.05). ConclusionsGastric acid exposure adversely affected the roughness and hardness of all the acrylic resins evaluated. CAD-CAM milled specimens showed better resistance to acid exposure after 24 and 96 hours in terms of roughness and hardness.