Effect of Surfactant on Surface Hardness of Dental Stone and Investment Casts Produced from Polyvinyl Siloxane Duplicating Materials

Abstract - Polyvinylsiloxane duplicating materials are typically treated with a topical surfactant before pouring dental models, but the use of topical surfactants in the dental laboratory may affect the surface hardness of the resultant models. The effect of two different topical surfactants on surface hardness of two dental stones (FujiRock and Dentstone) and one phosphate bonded investment material (CroformWB) produced from polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) dental laboratory duplicating moulds was investigated. Topical surfactants affected the surface hardness of FujiRock, Dentstone and Croform WB investment material. Surface hardness of FujiRock increased with Wax-Mate surfactant. However, surface hardness of Croform WB investment material decreased with both topical surfactants.

KEYWORDS: Laboratory techniques, Hardness, Dental stone, Dental investment material, Duplication.