Improving a self-curing dental resin by eliminating oxygen, hydroquinone and water from its curing process

Self-curing dental resins are always manipulated in the presence of curing inhibitory factors such as oxygen, hydroquinone, water and another contaminants such as saliva and blood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of eliminating these curing inhibitory factors on resin properties. Several clinically relevant characteristics of an experimental resin cured in the absence of inhibitory factors (purified group) were determined and compared with the resin cured conventionally (control group). The purified group showed a significantly shorter induction period and higher reaction exotherm. It also showed significantly higher tensile strength and lower strain to failure. With regard to the amount of residual monomer, fracture toughness and fatigue strength the improvements were not significant. These findings suggest that the polymerization outcomes and mechanical properties of the purified group resin can be improved in general. Dental clinicians should pay attention to the storage and curing environments while manipulating the self-curing resin.