Effect of curing cycles on vertical dimension of complete Dentures: An in vivo study

Abstract

The Purpose of the study is to determine the effect of long curing cycle and short curing cycle on changes in vertical dimension of occlusion of complete. The study was conducted in 20 completely edendulous patients, 10 complete dentures were fabricated with short curing cycle and 10 dentures with long curing cycle. All of the initial clinical steps involved in fabrication of dentures, with the exception of the curing cycle, were the same for both the groups. Vertical dimension of occlusion was measured with digital vernier caliper from specific points of reference on upper and lower member of articulator at 3 stages, stage 1 before polymerization, stage 2 after remounting the processed complete dentures and stage 3 after remounting of finished and polished complete dentures. In order to determine the change in vertical dimension, the measurement recorded prior to processing the dentures was subtracted from the measurement recorded just after processing as well as the one recorded after finishing & polishing. The readings were statistically analyzed and compared. Both the groups demonstrated a highly significant increase in VDO after processing of dentures. On comparison between both the groups, non significant results were obtained in the mean difference in VDO just after processing and after finishing & polishing of dentures. The clinical relevance of these changes does not confirm the superiority of any one curing cycle in terms of dimensional changes in VDO after processing.