This study aimed to measure the color change, surface roughness and flexural strength of heat-polymerized acrylic resin after its immersion in denture cleansers, simulating a 180-day use. Thirty disk-shaped (15mm x 4mm) and 30 rectangular samples (65mm x 10mm x 3.3mm) were prepared from heat-polymerized acrylic resin and immersed in Corega Tabs, Bony Plus, and distilled water. Color measurements (DeltaE) were determined by a portable colorimeter. A surface analyzer was used to measure the roughness before and after immersion (DeltaRa). The flexural strength (S) was measured using a 3-point bending test. The DeltaE values were submitted to statistical analysis by the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn's Multiple Comparisons test. The DeltaRa and S values were submitted to statistical analysis by ANOVA, followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls test (alpha=.05). The color changes were significantly higher for the Corega Tabs than for the control group. The mean DeltaE values quantified by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) were classified as Trace (0.0-0.5). The Bony Plus group had significantly higher surface roughness than the other groups. Corega Tabs and Bony Plus groups presented lower flexural strength than the control group. Although the color changes after the immersion in denture cleansers were clinically insignificant, the Corega Tabs group showed higher color differences. The Bony Plus group showed significantly increased surface roughness. Both effervescent tablets Corega Tabs and Bony Plus significantly diminished the flexural strength of the acrylic resin.

This study evaluated color stability, surface roughness and flexural strength of acrylic resin specimens after immersion in alkaline peroxide and alkaline hypochlorite, simulating a period of one and a half year of use of overnight immersion. Sixty disc-shaped (16X4 mm) and 80 rectangular specimens (65X10X3.3 mm) were prepared from heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Lucitone 550) and distributed into 4 groups (n=20): C1: without immersion, C2: 8 h immersion in distilled water; AP: 8 h immersion in alkaline peroxide effervescent tablet; SH: 8 h immersion in 0.5% NaOCl solution. Properties were evaluated at baseline and after the immersion. Color data were also calculated according the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test (α=0.05). AP (2.34 ± 0.41) caused color alteration significantly higher than C2 (0.39 ± 0.30) and SH (1.73 ± 0.52). The mean ΔE values were classified as indicial for C2 (0.36 ± 0.29) and noticeable for AP (2.12 ± 0.39) and SH (1.59 ± 0.48). SH (0.0195 ± 0.0150) caused significantly higher ΔRa (p=0.000) than the C2 (0.0005 ± 0.0115) and PA (0.0005 ± 0.0157) groups. There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.063) among the solutions for flexural strength (C1: 105.43 ± 14.93, C2: 100.30 ± 12.43, PA: 97.61 ± 11.09, SH: 95.23 ± 10.18). In conclusion, overnight immersion in denture cleansing solutions simulating a year and a half of use did not alter the flexural strength of acrylic resin but caused noticeable color alterations, higher for alkaline peroxide. The 0.5% NaOCl solution caused increase in surface roughness.