One of the most important properties of restorative dental materials is their resistance to environmental factors. In this context special attention should be paid not only to foods and beverages but also to mouthrinses. To date, the influence of these solutions on dental restorative materials is still largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present investigation was therefore to examine the surface resistance of non-metal dental restorative materials to mouthrinses.

METHODS: For this purpose 7 common mouthrinses based on different formulae were tested. The surface roughness and hardness of standardized test specimens of silicophosphate cements, glass ionomer restorative materials, compomeres, ceromeres/polyglass, composites, ceramics and denture base polymers were determined before and after 3h and 6h exposure to the mouthrinses in vitro by profilometric analysis and the Vickers hardness test. The micromorphological surface changes were analyzed by SEM.

RESULTS: In contrast to the ceramics, ceromeres, polyglasses and composites, which showed only a slight increase in surface roughness and a slight decrease in surface hardness, the compomere, glass ionomere and silicophosphate cement filling materials as well as the denture base polymers revealed marked surface changes of varying degrees after only 3 h of exposure, with the mean roughness increase and the mean hardness decrease depending on the mouthrinse used and the exposure time. The most pronounced surface changes were observed in the denture base polymers.

CONCLUSION: As the surface changes recorded in all tested materials designed for long-term restorative measures were only minimal even after 6 h of exposure, restricted application of mouthrinses need not be recommended to patients who have undergone restorative therapy with these materials. On the other hand, patients wearing removable partial or complete dentures should be strongly advised not to use mouthrinses as a storage solution for the denture.