Denture teeth are used for removable prostheses and implant-supportive restorations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the surface of artificial teeth following exposure to different liquids. Mechanical wear and the cleaning of artificial teeth were also investigated. Two groups of resin teeth were used; original surface (Group A) and surface abrasion/wear (Group B). The teeth were exposed for 24 h to water (control), cola (Group 1), coffee (Group 2), tea (Group 3), chlorhexidine (Group 4), and red wine (Group 5). Baseline measurements of liquids were taken. An x-ray fluorescence spectrometric analysis was performed. Data were evaluated using semi-quantitative descriptive analysis. The data showed approximate increases of peak intensity for Group A1-2-fold Fe, 2-fold Ni, 2.2-fold Zn; for Groups A2 and A3- less than 1.5-fold Fe, Ni, and Zn. Group B yielded similar results; however, the increases in Fe, Ni, and Zn were significantly higher in Groups 1 and 2 (ranged 2-4-fold increases in intensity). Group B3 showed little increase in Fe, Ni, and Zn. Groups A4 and A5 showed intensity increases for Zn. Groups A1-A5 showed reductions in intensity following 30 s of cleaning. A pronounced accumulation of iron, nickel, and zinc was found after exposure to liquids, especially when artificial teeth were worn down. Peak intensities were reduced following 30 s of brushing.
Keywords: abrasion; artificial teeth; metal hypersensitivity; nutrition; spectrometry.