Vinylpolysiloxane Wetting Ability during Setting Time: A Contact Angle Analysis

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the wettability of three low viscosity vinylpolysiloxane materials (VPS): Express (3M/ESPE) - EX; Aquasil (Dentsply) - AQ; and Adsil (Vigodent) - AD. Methods: A goniometer device was used to analyze the contact angle, considering water and artificial saliva as wetting fluids. VPSs were extruded on the goniometer base plate and flattened by a stainless-steel spatula to produce a uniform elastomeric surface. One drop of each fluid (n=4) was left for 4 minutes in contact to each material, and real time measurements were taken at each minute (1, 2, 3 and 4) by a specific software (RHI 2001 Imaging Software). Contact angles values were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey test (p<0.05) for comparison. Results: Interactions among factors - time, material and fluid - showed that wetting behavior was less affect by the last one. Angles for water/saliva (mean±sd) were: EX1:90.63±5,81/92.12±3.17;EX2:84.17±0.48/74.70±8.99; EX3:84±2.41/71.52±12.17;EX4:83.80±3.62/68.27±12.46;AQ1:121,48±11.21/111.87±5.26;AQ2:27.01±7.01/48.72±4.22; AQ3:16.28±5.07/39.22±3.20;AQ4:13.18±5.40/35.95±5.08;AD1:86.13±4.26/103.10±7.44;AD2:65.50±8.04/65.07±11.50; AD3:58.73±14.10/50.57±12.88;AD4:54.53±14.35/41.57±15.33. All VPSs had hydrophobic behavior at the first minute, but Aquasil was the most hydrophobic (p<0.009). Contact angle reduction at second minute was observed for all materials (p<0.006) but Express (p>0.41). After two minutes significant differences were no longer detected (p>0.08). Conclusions: Despite the initial hydrophobic behavior of all VPS materials, Aquasil and Adsil showed better wettability than Express during setting time.