Comparison of Linear Dimensional Stability among Three Different Types of Interocclusal Recording Materials: An In-vitro Study

Introduction: In routine dental practice, clinicians often face difficulty in selecting accurate interocclusal recording materials due to the introduction of numerous options in the market. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate material and use it correctly for the success of any prosthesis. Aim: To evaluate and compare the linear dimensional stability of three different types of interocclusal recording materials: polyvinyl siloxane bite registration paste (orangebite), polyether bite registration paste (ramitec), and bite registration wax (aluminium filled). Materials and Methods: An in-vitro study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, with microscopic evaluation performed at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology at Maratha Mandal’s NGH Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Belagavi, Karnataka, India in September 2020 for a period of four days. A stainless steel die was used to make impressions, and materials were manipulated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A total of 30 samples (10 for each material) were created. Three minutes after the respective setting time of each material, discs were separated from the die. The distance between two parallel lines was measured using a stereomicroscope at different time intervals: one hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Statistical analysis was performed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Mann-Whitney test. Results: In the intragroup comparison of dimensional changes at different time intervals, all three materials showed statistically insignificant results (p>0.05). However, statistically significant results (p≤0.05) were found when comparing the materials at different time points. Polyether bite registration material exhibited better dimensional stability than polyvinyl siloxane and bite registration wax at one hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Conclusion: Polyether demonstrated superior dimensional stability compared to polyvinyl siloxane and bite registration wax. The dimensional stability was influenced by both the material used and the duration of time