Effect of Processing on the Dimensional Accuracy of Maxillary Complete Denture

The aim of this study was to evaluate the linear dimensional changes of conventional heatpolymerized acrylic resin during the processing stages. Metal pins were placed into the centralfossae of the right and left first premolars and molars and cingulum area of the right central tooth on tooth aran gement stage. Anteroposterior and tranvers lenght measurements between reference points were done by using a digital calliper (Mitutoyo, Japan) by three investigators at different times. Measurements were performed after try-in (control), processing, polishing stages and storage in water for one month. Comparison of the rate of the changes for the stages according to the control group and between the stages were performed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed a decrease in anteroposterior measurements after processing and polishing stages with regard to the control group. The increase in the values with regard to the initially decreasing measurements in the samples stored in water for 1 month was not found statistically significant (p 0.05). Besides, it was observed that this increase was not proportional to the dimensional reduction. However, statistically significant differences were only determined in the processing stage with regard to the control group in the transvers measurements (p 0.05).