Linear dimensional variability of three denture base resins after processing and in water storage.

It has been shown that denture base resins shrink during curing and expand during storage in water. This investigation measured and compared linear dimensional changes of three denture base resins that occurred during processing and after storage in water for 30, 60, and 90 days. Triad, Accelar 20, and Lucitone 199 long- and short-cured resins were studied, and it was found that Accelar 20 resin exhibited the least curing shrinkage and Lucitone 199 resin short-cured exhibited the most. However, no significant differences occurred between the groups. After 90 days of water storage, the only resin that exhibited a shrinkage from the processed state was Accelar 20. All of the expansion or shrinkage changes were so small that they were not statistically significant and should not be clinically detectable.