Investigation of the influence of gastric acid on the surface roughness of ceramic materials of metal-ceramic restorations. An in vitro study.

The rehabilitation of eroded teeth in patients suffering from bulimia nervosa generally includes ceramics. This study compared the roughness of three ceramics before and after exposure to simulated vomit solution (SVS) with a pH of 3.8. Surface roughness parameters Ra, RMS, and AH were calculated using atomic force microscopy before and after exposure to SVS (novel peristaltic pump for 24 hours at 37°C) and were analyzed statistically. Apart from the initial high AH values of the glass-ceramic, none of the parameters evaluated were statistically significantly different after acid exposure. Under the limitations of this in vitro study, the investigated ceramics seem suitable for use in bulimia nervosa patients.