An In Vitro Comparison of the Compression Resistance and Tear Strength of Interocclusal Recording Materials After...

Aim The purpose of the study is to evaluate the compression resistance and tear strength of interocclusal recording materials after immersion in a chemical disinfectant. Methods A total of 120 specimens were prepared, with 30 samples for each material type. These were further divided into two subgroups: a control group (no disinfection) and an experimental group (subjected to disinfection), with 15 specimens in each experimental group. The specimens in the experimental group were immersed in a commonly used chemical disinfectant, such as 2% glutaraldehyde for 30 min, while the control group was stored in a dry environment under ideal conditions without exposure to any disinfectant. The specimens were made into cylindrical and dumbbell shapes for compressive and tear strength testing, respectively, using a universal testing machine, and the values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results The findings were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test in SPSS version 27.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York). The results revealed that polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) exhibited the highest compression resistance and tear strength, both before and after disinfection, demonstrating superior mechanical stability. Aluwax showed moderate mechanical performance, with slight changes after immersion. In contrast, zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) exhibited the lowest resistance, showing significant degradation in both properties post-immersion. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant impact of disinfection on material performance (p<0.05), particularly for ZOE.  Conclusion Among the tested materials, PVS demonstrated the best overall performance, maintaining its mechanical integrity post-disinfection, making it the preferred choice for clinical applications requiring durability and accuracy. Aluwax retained moderate properties, while ZOE was the least reliable due to its significant degradation after immersion. These findings emphasize the need for careful material selection in prosthodontics to ensure clinical reliability while maintaining effective infection control.