Effect of different tooth brushes and tooth pastes on the surface roughness of denture base acrylic resin

Objective:- The objective of the study was to find out the effect on surface roughness of acrylic resin observed before and after a brushing process.Methodology:- Sixty specimens measuring 75x25x4 mm were prepared in rectangular forms out of which thirty specimens were of heat cure acrylic and thirty were made of self cure acrylic resin. Different toothpastes like colgate, closeup gel and different textures of tooth brushes namely medium and hard brushes were used. Even Dettol soap and denture brush combination was used for brushing. Brushing was done with a mechanical device and the brushing cycles were limited to 30,000 which was equivalent to the use of three years. Surface roughness(Ra) was measured using contact profilometer.Results:- The surface roughness(Ra) of heat cure specimens with colgate paste and medium brush before brushing was 0.3495 μm and after brushing it was 0.4359 μm. For hard brush the values before and after brushing were 0.3604 μm and 0.4498 μm respectively. With closeup gel and medium brush the roughness values before brushing was 0.3357 μm and 0.4243 μm after brushing. For hard brush the values before and after brushing and after brushing were 0.3533 μm and 0.4426 μm. For soap and denture brush before brushing it was 0.3512 μm and 0.5178 μm after brushing. The surface roughness(Ra) of self cure specimens with colgate and medium brush before brushing was 0.3642 μm and 0.4411 μm after brushing. For hard brush values before brushing and after brushing were 0.3749 μm and 0.4509 μm respectively. With closeup gel and medium brush before brushing was 0.3740 μm and 0.4411 μm after brushing. For hard brush the values before and after brushing were0.3642 μm and 0.4363 μm respectively, and for soap and denture brush before brushing it was 0.3495 μm and 0.5356 μm after brushing. The results were tabulated and subjected to Bonferoni statistical analysis.Conclusions:- The surface roughness increased in heat cure specimens irrespective of the paste used when compared to self cure specimens in all combinations except “Soap and denture brush” wherein self cure specimens recorded a higher surface roughness compared to heat cure specimens. Surface roughness actually increased in Soap and denture brush combination compared to other combinations.