Effect of polymerization method and fabrication method on occlusal vertical dimension and occlusal contacts of complete-arch prosthesis

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the dimensional stability of a complete-arch prosthesis processed by conventional method in water bath or microwave energy and polymerized by two different curing cycles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty maxillary complete-arch prostheses were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): MW1 - acrylic resin cured by one microwave cycle; MW2 - acrylic resin cured by two microwave cycles: WB1 - conventional acrylic resin polymerized using one curing cycle in a water bath; WB2 - conventional acrylic resin polymerized using two curing cycles in a water bath. For evaluation of dimensional stability, occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) and area of contact points were measured in two different measurement times: before and after the polymerization method. A digital caliper was used for OVD measurement. Occlusal contact registration strips were used between maxillary and mandibular dentures to measure the contact points. The images were measured using the software IpWin32, and the differences before and after the polymerization methods were calculated. The data were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = .05). RESULTS: he results demonstrated significant statistical differences for OVD between different measurement times for all groups. MW1 presented the highest OVD values, while WB2 had the lowest OVD values (P<.05). No statistical differences were found for area of contact points among the groups (P=.7150). CONCLUSION: The conventional acrylic resin polymerized using two curing cycles in a water bath led to less difference in OVD of complete-arch prosthesis.