A Comparative Evaluation of Surface Roughness of Ceramics after Immersion in Different Oral Rinses: An In-vitro Study

Introduction: The novel Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) spreads through respiratory droplets, and various strategies have been developed to reduce its spread. One of these strategies is the use of oral rinses, such as chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), to reduce the viral load. However, while these rinses have advantages in preventing the spread of the virus, they may also have adverse effects on restorative materials in the oral cavity, particularly dental ceramics. The usage of mouthwashes during the pandemic may affect the surface roughness of dental ceramics, leading to plaque accumulation. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness of ceramics after immersion in different oral rinses for seven, 15, and 30 days. Materials and Methods: An in vitro study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics at Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, Maharashtra, India. The study was conducted over a period of four months, from October 2021 to January 2022. A total of 51 specimens of dental ceramics were fabricated using a mold with dimensions of 10 mm diameter x 2 mm height. These specimens were randomly divided into three groups based on the immersion solution: distilled water, hydrogen peroxide, and povidone iodine. Each immersion cycle lasted for one minute, and the immersion was performed for 30 days. Surface analysis was carried out using a Surftester at intervals of seven, 15, and 30 days. The data were statistically analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Intergroup comparison (>2 groups) was performed using the Kruskall-Wallis test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by pairwise comparison using the Mann-Whitney U test. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean values of surface roughness for povidone iodine were 0.641, 1.569, 2.5047, and 3.4447 at 0, seven, 15, and 30 days, respectively. The mean values of surface roughness for hydrogen peroxide were 0.681, 2.360, 4.0324, and 5.7035 at 0, seven, 15, and 30 days, respectively. The mean values of surface roughness for distilled water were 0.747, 0.994, 1.3312, and 1.6088 at 0, seven, 15, and 30 days, respectively. Conclusion: The surface roughness of ceramics was significantly higher with the use of hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash, with mean values of 0.681, 2.360, 4.0324, and 5.7035 at 0, seven, 15, and 30 days, respectively, compared to povidone iodine and distilled water. Povidone iodine can be used as a prophylactic oral rinse compared to hydrogen peroxide.