An evaluation of the surface characteristics of a facial prosthetic elastomer. Part II: The surface texture.

Silicone elastomers do not have an inherent surface texture but take on the surface texture of the surface against which they are processed. This study compares the surface texture of Cosmesil material, a purpose-designed facial prosthetic elastomer, and Molloplast-B material, which is a well-established material for use in the clinic. We used a profilometer to determine the roughness average, maximum roughness, and waviness of the dies, control, gypsum, and silicone test surfaces. Statistical analyses of results involved multivariate analyses of variance and Tukey's procedures to compare roughness average, maximum roughness, and waviness (in all cases p less than 0.05). The results showed that the silicone elastomers, Cosmesil and Molloplast-B, have similar surface characteristics. The only statistically significant difference was in waviness (Molloplast-B, means = 10.82 microns; Cosmesil, means = 12.82 microns). The gypsum surface yielding the most satisfactory result was the surface that had been treated with silicone paste separator. On the basis of surface characteristics, Cosmesil material is likely to cause no more surface trauma of the tissue against which it is placed than the use of Molloplast-B material.