SORPTION AND SOLUBILITY OF 12 SOFT DENTURE LINERS

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 I week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Sorption data varied from 0.2 to 5.6 mg/cm(2) at 1 week; 0.3 to 12.5 mg/cm(2) at 1 month; 0.1 to 22.0 mg/cm(2) at 3 months; 0.1 to 13.6 mg/cm(2) at 6 months; and 0.1 to 35.7 mg/cm(2) at 12 months. Solubility data varied from 0.0 to 0.4 mg/cm(2) at 1 week; 0.1 to 0.8 mg/cm(2) at 1 month; +0.1 to 1.2 mg/cm(2) at 3 months; 0.0 to 1.9 mg/cm(2) at 6 months; and +0.2 to 2.3 mg/cm(2) 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.