Dimensional change of heat-cured acrylic resin dentures with three different cooling regimes following a standard curing cycle.

The aim of the study was to compare dimensional changes in poly(methylmethacrylate) complete denture bases resulting from three different cooling regimens following a standard heating cycle. Changes in three separate dimensions were measured on ten dentures within each cooling regimen after curing, and before and after removing the denture from the cast using a computer imaging system. No consistent differences occurred as a result of removing the denture from the cast. The results indicated that there was greater change in dimension of dentures with the quenching cooling method than with either overnight cooling in the water bath or bench cooling. This was particularly evident after removal from the cast after curing (p<0.001). It is concluded that slow cooling results in less dimensional change.