Effect of adhesive retention of maxillofacial prostheses. Part 2: Time and reapplication effects

The success of most non-implant-retained extraoral prostheses depends on retention derived from skin adhesives. Part 1 of this study found that Skin-Prep Protective Dressing improved the retentive properties of adhesives and that Secure(2) Medical Adhesive was stronger than Epithane-3. Part 2 investigates the application of a second layer of adhesive to the prosthesis, which was earlier noted to improve retention at later time periods.

This study measured the force needed to remove silicone elastomer strips with Secure(2) Medical Adhesive from the skin of human subjects. Testing was performed before and after the removal of the strips and reapplication of the adhesive.

Secure(2) Medical Adhesive was painted on silicone rubber strips and placed in a nonsequential random order of the 3 variables to 3 sites on the ventral forearms of 21 human subjects and tested over an 8-hour period. The bond strength was measured at 0, 4, and 8 hours. After a reapplication of adhesive over the existing adhesive, additional bond strength measurements were made at 4 and 8 hours. Testing was at 10 cm/min in an Instron. All subjects had Skin-Prep coating applied before adhesive application.

Bond strengths for both single applications and reapplications of the adhesive were greater at 0 hours and became significantly weaker after the 4- and 8-hour periods. The second application of the adhesive produced the strongest bonds when measured at 4 hours (110 N/m). Bonding was significantly higher at 8 hours if a second application of adhesive was applied at 0 or 4 hours.

The results of this study indicate that the bond strength of silicone elastomer to skin decreased over an 8-hour interval. After removal of the silicone rubber strip and reapplication of Secure(2) Medical Adhesive over the existing adhesive, bond strengths increased.