Evaluating temperature increase during the polymerization of dental acrylic resin materials used for the direct fabrication of anterior deprogramming devices.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The polymerization of acrylic resin materials used for the direct fabrication of anterior deprogramming devices results in a temperature increase because of the exothermic reaction. This heat release might cause thermal trauma to the pulp, compromising the tooth's vitality.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the temperature increase and the timing of the maximum temperature recording obtained inside the pulp chamber of a maxillary central incisor during the polymerization of different resins materials used for the direct fabrication of anterior deprogramming devices.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The exothermic reaction was examined during the polymerization of 4 different polymethyl methacrylate resin products: Pattern Resin LS; GC America, DuraLay inlay pattern resin; Reliance Dental, Kallocryl CPGM red; Speiko, and mega-Model Resin NF; Megadental. A polymeric matrix was fabricated to simulate the anterior deprogramming device. A freshly extracted intact maxillary central incisor was fixed in an acrylic resin mold, and a thermal probe was inserted into the pulp chamber to transmit the temperature recordings. The resin materials were mixed as per the manufacturer's instructions and an equal volume of each was inserted into the plastic matrix, which was then positioned on the tooth. The temperature increase and the time needed to obtain the maximum temperature were recorded. The temperature and time recordings were performed initially for the intact tooth and repeated after the tooth was prepared for a metal-ceramic restoration. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, 1-way analysis of variance, and the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference tests (α=.05).

RESULTS

In accordance with the 1-way ANOVA, there was a statistically significant difference both in temperature increase (F [7,72] = 3.72, P=.002) and in the recorded time (F [7,72] = 160.80, P<.001). The mean temperature inside the pulp chamber ranged from 40.1 °C for the Pattern Resin LS to 41.4 °C for the DuraLay inlay pattern resin material. The mean time recordings ranged from 133 seconds for the Kallocryl CPGM red material to 266 seconds for the DuraLay inlay pattern resin material.

CONCLUSIONS

The Pattern Resin LS revealed the lowest exothermic reaction (P<.05) when compared with the other materials tested in this study, whereas Kallocryl CPGM red had the shortest time increase without being statistically significantly different.