Peel bond strength and antifungal activity of two soft denture lining materials incorporated with 1% chlorhexidine diacetate.

Two soft denture lining materials (SC-Soft Confort and TS-Trusoft) were investigated with and without the addition of 1.0% of chlorhexidine diacetate (1.0% CHX). To assess peel bond strength, specimens (75x10x6 mm) were submitted to a peel test at 10 mm/min immediately and after 24 h. To evaluate Candida albicans growth inhibition, disc of specimens (10x3 mm) were immersed in a solution with 3x10(6) CFU/mL of C. albicans, and spectral measurements were made following immersion in MTT solution for 2, 4, and 6 days. The agar diffusion test was performed by investigating the diameters of inhibition zones around the disc of specimens (10x3 mm)after 48 h. Data were submitted to statistical analysis (alpha=0.05) and the failure modes were visually classified. The incorporation of 1.0% CHX significantly decreased the peel bond strength for TS (p=0.001) and SC (p=0.005) for immediate test and for TS after 24 h (p=0.010), but not for SC. C. albicans growth was decreased for both materials over time (p<0.05). SC presented inhibition zones approximately 2.0 times larger than TS. The incorporation of 1.0% CHX inhibited fungal growth without impairment to the peel bond strength for SC after 24 h.