The effect of glutaraldehyde base disinfectants on denture base resins.

The effect of two alkaline glutaraldehyde base disinfectants on a heat-cured denture base resin was evaluated by the flexural strength, the repair flexural strength, and the surface morphology of the material that had been immersed up to 12 hours in the disinfecting solutions. The flexural strength of the material was not significantly affected by either disinfectant. The disinfectant with phenolic buffer caused surface pitting of the material after 10 minutes of immersion, and softening and swelling of the surface after 2 hours of immersion. No apparent surface change was observed with the regular alkaline formulation, however. Between the two repair resins, the autopolymerized resin yielded greater repair flexural strength than the light-cured repair resin. However, the repair flexural strength of autopolymerized resin seemed to be influenced by either disinfecting solution whereas the light-cured repair resin was not affected.