Evaluation of enamel wear by 3 occlusal splint materials: An in vitro study

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Occlusal devices used to manage bruxism have been commonly fabricated from polymethyl methacrylate with the powder-liquid technique. More recently, Vertex ThermoSens (VTS) and the biocompatible high-performance polymer (BioHPP), an optimized material having polyetheretherketone (PEEK) as its basis, have been used, but little is known about the wear of these materials on human enamel.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess via a mastication simulation test how 3 occlusal device materials affected the wear and roughness of enamel antagonists.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A noncontact 3D optical profilometer was used to measure the enamel surface roughness (Ra) against 3 occlusal device materials: vertex regular, VTS, and PEEK high-performance polymer (BioHPP). A dual-axis mastication simulator was used to perform a 2-body wear test on specimens from each group. The test consisted of 10 000 cycles with a 70-N force and 5 to 55 °C thermocycling. Following simulated mastication, the weight of each specimen and the Ra change were compared with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired specimens t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and 1-way analysis of variance (α=.05).

RESULTS

The polyamide group caused the lowest amount of enamel wear (P<.05), while the heat-polymerized acrylic resin group induced the largest amount of enamel wear (P<.05). For polyamide and PEEK, the change in enamel surface roughness exhibited a smooth texture, whereas it found a rougher surface for the heat-polymerized acrylic resin.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this study, surface roughness and wear on human enamel were not correlated. PEEK is a promising material for the fabrication of occlusal devices.