Comparative Evaluation of Surface Roughness and Wear Resistance of Heat Cured Acrylic Denture Base Resin Subjected to Long Term Immersion in Different TDS Levels of Water - An in-vitro Study

Objective: This in-vitro study aimed to compare the surface roughness and wear resistance of conventional and high-impact heat-cured acrylic denture base resins following long-term immersion in water with varying Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 samples were divided into two groups: Group A (conventional acrylic resin) and Group B (high-impact acrylic resin). Each group was subdivided based on water type: control, hard, soft, and distilled. Surface roughness was measured using a profilometer, and wear resistance was tested with a pin-on-disc apparatus after three months of immersion. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between groups and across time points. High-impact resin exhibited lower surface roughness and higher wear resistance than conventional resin across all water types. Hard water resulted in the most significant deterioration in both materials. Conclusion: Water quality, especially TDS level, affects the longevity and clinical performance of denture base resins. High-impact acrylic resin demonstrated superior properties, suggesting its preferable use in varied water environments. Keywords: Surface roughness, Wear resistance, acrylic resin, Denture base, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Water immersion, High-impact resin.