Linear setting expansion of different gypsum products

Introduction: Stone casts are used in dentistry to allow the confection of indirect restorations. Thus, gypsum dimensional stability is fundamental in order to achieve a precise fit between dental structure and restorative material. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hygroscopic linear expansion of commercially available gypsum products. Material and methods: Fifteen dental stones were analyzed (4 type II, 5 type III, 4 type IV and 2 type V), with n = 5. One hundred grams of each gypsum product were mixed following the respective manufacturers’ recommendations for powder/water ratio and poured into a V-shape mold, connected to an expansion-measuring device. The hygroscopic expansion was evaluated during 120 min and the collected data was converted into percentage and compared to initial dimensions of the specimen. Results: All type II and V dental stones showed expansion values compatible to the ADA and ISO recommendations. Considering type III stones, only Rutenium 3 was compatible with the recommendations. For type IV, only Durone IV showed expansion values higher than that recommended by ADA, but lower than that of ISO recommendations. Conclusion: The hygroscopic linear expansion of gypsum products should be periodically controlled in order to ensure their precision and reliability to dental practice.