A Comparison of the Reproduction of Surface Detail of Three Tissue Conditioning Materials over Time

Introduction Tissue conditioners are used for conditioning of denture-bearing inflamed mucosa by ill-fitting dentures prior to fabricating new dentures, for relining the existing dentures, and for provisional relining of immediate dentures and ill-fitting dentures [1-2]. Tissue conditioners have also been used as functional impression materials [1-3]. Their efficacy as functional impression materials is influenced by rheological properties [4-5], dimensional stability [6-7], ability to reproduce details [6], undercuts and durability [4-5]. Clearly, two properties of impression materials; dimensional accuracy and detail reproduction, are prerequisites for successful impression [8]. Tissue conditioners, generally offered as powder and liquid, are mixed and used clinically in denture. The powder includes of polyethyl methacrylate or a related copolymer, whereas the liquid is an ester plasticizer, such as dibutylphthalate, butylphthalyl butyl glycolate, butyl benzyl phthalate or diburtylsebacate,