A comparative evaluation of effect on water sorption and solubility of a temporary soft denture liner material when stored either in distilled water, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite or artificial saliva: An in vitro study.

INTRODUCTION: Soft denture liners have a key role in modern removable prosthodontics since they restore health to inflamed and abused mucosa by redistribution of forces transmitted to the edentulous ridges. The most common problems encountered using soft denture liners are water sorption and solubility when in contact with saliva or storage media. These problems are associated with swelling, distortion, support of Candida albicans growth, and stresses at the liner/denture base interface that reduces the bond strength.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the water sorption and solubility of commercially available acrylic based self cure soft denture lining material (GC RELINE™ Tissue Conditioner) after immersion in three different storage media (distilled water, Shellis artificial saliva, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite disinfectant solution) at time interval of 4, 7, 11, and 15 days.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved preparation of artificial saliva using Shellis formula. A total 45 standardized samples of the material (GC RELINE™) were prepared in disk form (15 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness). The study was divided into three groups with storage in Control (distilled water), Shellis artificial saliva, and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Samples were dried in a desiccator and weighed in the analytical balance to measure the initial weight (mg/cm2) of the disks (W1). The first groups (15 samples) were placed in 30 ml distilled water (Group A) at 37ºC, second group 30 ml of artificial saliva (Group B) and third group in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (Group C). Disks were removed from disinfectant after 5 min and placed in 30 ml distilled water. On days 4, 7, 11, and 15, all samples were removed from their containers and reweighed to measure the weight (mg/cm2) of the disks after sorption (W2). The solubility was measured by placing the disks back in the desiccator after each sorption cycle and drying them to constant weight in the desiccator. These values were weight after desiccation (W3). Water sorption and solubility was calculated: 1. Sorption (mg/cm2) = (W2-W1)/Surface area 2. Solubility (mg/cm2) = (W1-W3)/Surface area.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical Analysis was done using one way analysis of variance and the intercomparison between each group was done using Tukey's honestly significance difference (HSD) test.

RESULTS: Within the limitations of this study it was concluded that water sorption of the GC RELINE™ soft denture liner material was highest in distilled water followed by 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and least in Shellis artificial saliva at 4, 7, and 11 day interval. However, on the 15th day, the results showed maximum water sorption in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite followed by distilled water and least in artificial saliva. The results on solubility showed highest solubility of GC RELINE soft denture liner in artificial saliva followed by distilled water and least in 5.25% sodium hypochlorite at 4, 7, 11, and 15 day interval.

DISCUSSION: The least water uptake of the soft liner in artificial saliva was due to its ionic properties and supports the theory that water uptake of these materials is osmotically driven. However, the solubility was highest in artificial saliva since it is a mix of various salts and other additives, so there is a possibility of interaction with soft denture lining material.