COLOR STABILITY OF AN ELASTOMER FOR FACIAL PROSTHESES AFTER DISINFECTION WITH DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF CHLORHEXIDINE.

Objective. To evaluate the color stability of a facial prosthesis elastomer at different times of institution of disinfection protocols. Study Design. Seven experimental groups (n=15/group) were evaluated after immersion in distilled water (Control, C); nanochlorhexidine (NC); and chlorhexidine digluconate (DC) at different concentrations [0.12% (DC0.12%); 1% (DC1%); 2% (DC2%)] and DC associated with surfactants at 2% (DC+S2%) and 4% (DC+S4%). Color stability measurements (CieLab formula and National Standard Bureau, NBS) were performed at baseline, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 simulated months of disinfection. Data was processed by Kruskal Wallis and Dunn (p≤0,05). Results. After 1 month, DC1% and DC2% were similar and caused the least color changes (p≤0.01). All solutions equalized after 3 months, except for DC2%. After 6 months, NC was equal to the control (NBS: mild) and showed the smallest color changes (p≤0.044), remaining so for up to 12 months. DC+S4% showed the greatest color changes after 6 and 9 months (NBS: appreciable). Conclusion. In the end, Nanochlorhexidine and chlorhexidine digluconate at 0.12% caused the lowest color changes. The chlorhexidine digluconate at 4% associated with surfactants obtained the worst findings [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]