title: [Effect of pH on the surface roughness of heat cured denture base acrylic resins].
abstract: Atomic force microscopy can be used to observe the surface changes of dental acrylic resins, providing valid information about the degradation and performance in time of these materials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of pH on the surface roughness of heat cured denture base acrylic resins using atomic force microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two commercially available heat cured denture base acrylic resins were used to fabricate 18 test samples (2,5x1 cm2). The surfaces were polished and the samples were stored in artificial saliva Afnor, with a pH value of 5.5 and 6.8. Three samples from every type of acrylic resins were considered reference samples. Roughness measurements were made using atomic force microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The denture base acrylic resins showed a higher roughness when the pH was more acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The atomic force microscopy is a non-invasive method which allows to record high-resolution images of the surface topography of acrylic resins. The salivary acidity affects the surface features of the acrylic resins, increasing the roughness.
authors.affiliation: Facultatea de Medicină Dentară, Disciplina de Diagnostic oro-dentar si Gerontostomatologie, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi.
authors.forename: Ioana Roxana
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Constantinescu
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ursache
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mardarez
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003775:Dental Polishing / Q000379:methods*; D003819:Denture Bases; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012463:Saliva; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins