Comparison of wear on the surfaces of denture base resins based on the type and application angle of ultrasonic scaler tips

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different types and angulations of ultrasonic scaler tips on the surfaces of denture base resins.Methods: Heat-polymerized and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) denture base resin specimens were manufactured in rectangular shapes (60103 mm) and divided into four groups.Stainless-steel and carbon scaler tips were applied at angles of 0 and 45 with 100 g of weight for 60 seconds, and the depth and volume of the surface defects were compared.Results: Stainless-steel tips with a 45 angle showed a larger defect depth and volume than stainless-steel tips with a 0 angle and carbon tips with a 0 angle (P<0.001).No result was observed when using carbon tips with a 45 angle because the scaler tip broke during the experiment.No significant differences were observed between the heat-cured and CAD/CAM resins at 0 angles.Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, as the angle of the scaler tip increased, the depth and volume of the defect increased.And, when the angle was 0, no significant differences were observed between the effects of the stainless-steel and carbon tips.