A Comparative Evaluation of Contact Angle Changes on three Topical Surfactant Application and Exposure to Radio-Frequency Glow Discharge
M. Mathew1, Saji. P1, Raza Mohamed1, P. Sesha. Reddy1, Acu. Varma2 and Ashish R.Jain3

1Department of Prosthodontics, Pariyaram dental college, Pariyaram, Kannur(Dt),  kerala,  India.

2Department of Prosthodontics, Goverment Dental College, RIMS, Putlampali, Kadapa, India.

3Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals,Chennai, India.

Corresponding author E-mail: dr.ashishjain_r@yahoo.com

Abstract: Recent studies have shown that plasma treatment of impression surfaces improve the surface wettability of the material, it was decided to explore whether the Radio-frequency glow discharge process is useful in improving the wettability of impression materials.To compare the effect of RGD on the improvement of wettability of the surface of the elastromeric impression materials with a topical surfactant, applied over the same elastomers. 24 specimens of elastomers discs of 30mm diameter and 3mm thickness were prepared. 12 specimens were exposed to commercial surfactant an remaining 12 specimens were subjected to RGD exposure and were grouped as Group A- Addition silicone, Group B- Condensation silicone, Group C- Polyether. Addition silicone showed a mean contact angle of 53.4 before exposure and on exposure to RGD dropped to 44.3 and 39.7 on exposure to surfactant showing a decrease in contact angle for both. Condensation silicone showed a mean contact angle of 47.8 before exposure and on exposure to RGD dropped to 21.4 and 37.6 on exposure to surfactant.. Polyether showed a mean contact angle of 44.8 before exposure to RGD and surfactant and on exposure to RGD dropped to 43.4 and 16.3 on exposure to surfactant. Within limitations of the study, the contact angle values were decreased for all the three materials tested namely, addition silicone, condensation silicone and polyether, after application of topical surfactant and after exposure to Radio-frequency glow discharge.

Keywords: Contact Angle; Elastomers; RGD; Surfactant; Wettability

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