Dimensional stability of denture bases following repair with microwave resin

The dimensional stability of a commercially available acrylic resin, designed specifically for polymerization by microwave irradiation, was compared with that of a conventional water-bath-cured resin. Resin bases were processed on duplicate stone casts prepared from a cobalt chromium master die. Twenty bases were polymerized, using acrylic resin modified for rapid heat curing, in a water-bath at 100 degrees C for 22 min. A further 20 bases were polymerized using a microwave curing acrylic resin, in a conventional microwave oven at 500 W power output for 3 min. Ten bases from each group were sectioned in a parasagittal direction and repaired using the microwave curing resin. Following each curing cycle the fit of the posterior border of each base was evaluated via a silicone index formed between the base and the master die. The index was invested in stone and sectioned through the posterior palatal region to allow measurement of its thickness by means of an eyepiece micrometer. One-way analysis of variance and unpaired Student's t tests were employed to compare the differences in distortion at the initial cure and following repair. No significant differences were found in the distortion of the acrylic resin bases produced from the heat-cured or microwave-cured materials. All bases exhibited significant further distortion on repair with the microwave-cured acrylic resin.