Surface roughness of oral mucosa and its reproduction in dental materials

An even fitting surface is essential to obtain and maintain a healthy oral mucosa in denture wearers. The present study was designed to clarify the relationship between the surface roughness of oral mucosa and its reproduction in the corresponding fitting surface of acrylic dentures. A silicone elastomer/epoxy replica technique was used for rendering the oral mucosal surface accessible to measurements with a stylus-type profile recorder. The method's ability to reproduce roughness with good traceability was tested and verified. Acrylic fitting surfaces made by standard denture-making technique demonstrated roughness values substantially higher than those of the mucosa, stemming from a high inherent surface roughness of dental stone models. To compensate for this, various separating media for stone models were tested as to their ability of reducing surface roughness. One silicone varnish (Silisol, Dreve AG, Germany) produced an acrylic surface with a roughness value comparable to that of the oral mucosa.