Microhardness in pressing layers of prefabricated modified acrylic resin teeth

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microhardness in pressing layers of prefabricated modified acrylic resin teeth. METHODS: Lower first molar teeth with two (Biotone(r) IPN and Bioform(r)) or three pressing layers (Artiplus(r), Trilux(r) Eurovipi, and Natusdent(r)) were hemisected in a bucco-lingual plane and embedded in a self-curing acrylic resin (n =10). Specimens were then ground flat and polished using 400, 600 and 1200 aluminium oxide paper in a rotatory polisher. In each pressing layer, microhardness was measured using a Knoop indenter in three different locations spaced 300 µm apart under a 10-g load, applied for 5 sec. RESULTS: Analysis of variance and Tukey's tests demonstrated that there was no difference in microhardness in the first layer of the teeth analyzed (p = 0.355), whereas in the second layer, the brand Artiplus(r) showed higher values when compared to the brand Natusdent(r) (p = 0.018). For the third layer, the brands Artiplus(r) and Trilux(r) Eurovipi revealed higher microhardness when compared to Natusdent(r) teeth (p