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 < 0.001). CONCLUSION: For the outer most superficial layer of the artificial teeth, the microhardness of the different brands was similar, while differences were noted for the second and third layers among the artificial teeth, with Artiplus(r) teeth showing higher microhardness than Natusdent(r).