Wettability of nonaqueous elastomeric impression materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Dental Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate dental impressions are crucial for prosthodontics and restorative dentistry.
• Wettability of impression materials influences the accuracy and detail reproduction of the final impression.
• Non-aqueous elastomeric impression materials are widely used due to their dimensional stability and ease of use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the wettability of various non-aqueous elastomeric impression materials.
• To evaluate the influence of material type on surface wettability.
• To determine if surface roughness affects wettability measurements.

Main Methods:

• Eight non-aqueous elastomeric impression materials were tested: three polyethers, three hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxanes), one conventional poly(vinyl siloxane), and one poly(vinyl siloxane) putty.
• Extracted human teeth were prepared to simulate clinical surface roughness.
• Contact angles were measured at various time points after material mixing to assess wettability.

Main Results:

• Non-hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) materials and the poly(vinyl siloxane) putty exhibited significantly lower wettability.
• Polyether and hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) materials demonstrated better wettability.
• Contact angle measurements over time did not show significant variations, suggesting initial wettability is the key factor.

Conclusions:

• Material composition significantly impacts the wettability of non-aqueous elastomeric impression materials.
• Hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) and polyether materials offer superior wettability, potentially leading to more accurate impressions.
• Non-hydrophilic poly(vinyl siloxane) and putty materials may present challenges in capturing fine details due to poor wettability.