Soft denture-lining materials are an important treatment option for patients who have chronic soreness associated with dental prostheses. Three distinctly different types of materials are generally used. These are plasticized polymers or copolymers, silicones, or polyphosphazene fluoroelastomer. The acceptance of these materials by patients and dentists is variable. The objective of this study is to compare the tensile strength, percent elongation, hardness, tear strength, and tear energy of eight plasticized polymers or copolymers, two silicones, and one polyphosphazene fluoroelastomer. Tests were run at 24 hours after specimen preparation and repeated after 900 hours of accelerated aging in a Weather-Ometer device. The data indicated a wide range of physical properties for soft denture-lining materials and showed that accelerated aging dramatically affected the physical and mechanical properties of many of the elastomers. No soft denture liner proved to be superior to all others. The data obtained should provide clinicians with useful information for selecting soft denture lining materials for patients.

No abstract

The long-term stability of a soft denture liner depends to a large extent on the sorption and solubility of the liner. Because sorption and solubility are accompanied by a volumetric change, bacterial infestation, hardening, and color change, it is a physical property of importance. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the sorption and solubility of 12 soft denture liners (Verno-Soft, Super Soft, ProTech, Soft-Pak, Flexor, Novus, Molloplast-B, Durosoft, Justi Soft, Velvesoft, VinaSoft and Prolastic). They include nine copolymers, two silicones and one polyphosphazene fluoroelastomer. The sorption and solubility test was performed as outlined in American Dental Association (ADA) specification 12 for denture base polymers. Five specimens of each material were tested and data were collected at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Sorption data varied from 0.2 to 5.6 mg/cm2 at 1 week; 0.3 to 12.5 mg/cm2 at 1 month; 0.1 to 22.0 mg/cm2 at 3 months; 0.1 to 13.6 mg/cm2 at 6 months; and 0.1 to 35.7 mg/cm2 at 12 months. Solubility data varied from 0.0 to 0.4 mg/cm2 at 1 week; 0.1 to 0.8 mg/cm2 at 1 month; +0.1 to 1.2 mg/cm2 at 3 months; 0.0 to 1.9 mg/cm2 at 6 months; and +0.2 to 2.3 mg/cm2 at 1 year. A statistical analysis of the data by two-way ANOVA and calculated Tukey intervals showed significant differences between materials at all time intervals. The results of this study have clinical implications because the sorption and solubility may affect the long-term life expectancy of the soft denture liner.

No abstract