Color changes of autopolymerized silicone or acrylic soft denture reliners: the effect of accelerated aging

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of accelerated aging on the color stability of six autopolymerized silicone and acrylic soft reliners. Ten specimens for each material were fabricated. Initial color was measured with a tri-stimulus colorimeter. One set of five specimens was placed in distilled water at 37 °C under dark for 15 days, while the remaining were subjected to photoaging initially for 1 and then for 6 days. Color changes (ΔE) then calculated. Data were analysed by ANOVA, Tukey and t tests at a = 0.05. All the reliners after storage in water showed ΔE ranged from 2.8 (Mucopren Soft) to 7.9 (Vertex Soft). After accelerated aging for 1 day, ΔE ranged from 4.6 (Vertex Soft) to 12.4 (Eversoft) whereas after 6 days from 1.7 (Ufigel SC) to 11.8 (Eversoft). All the reliners showed perceptible ΔE except Ufigel SC in 6 days aging and clinically unacceptable ΔE except Sofreliner S and Vertex Soft after aging for 1 day. Eversoft showed the highest discoloration after aging.