Statement of problem: A nanographene-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been introduced for definitive prostheses. However, knowledge on the surface roughness and stainability of this material is lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the surface roughness and stainability of nanographene-reinforced PMMA with those of a prepolymerized PMMA and a reinforced composite resin after coffee thermocycling.

Material and methods: Disk-shaped specimens (Ø10×1.5-mm) were prepared from 3 different A1-shade millable resins (prepolymerized PMMA [M-PM; PMMA]; nanographene-reinforced PMMA [G-CAM; G-PMMA]; reinforced composite resin [Brilliant Crios; RCR]). Surface roughness (R_a) values were measured before and after conventional polishing by using a noncontact profilometer. Initial color coordinates were measured over a gray background with a spectrophotometer after polishing. Specimens were then thermocycled in coffee for 5000 cycles. Measurements were repeated after coffee thermocycling, and color differences (ΔE₀₀) were calculated. R_avalues among different time intervals were analyzed by using either the Friedman and Dunn tests (RCR) or repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni corrected paired samples t tests (PMMA and G-PMMA), while R_avalues within a time interval were analyzed by using either the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (before polishing) or 1-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD (after polishing) or Tamhane T2 tests (after coffee thermocycling). ΔE₀₀values were analyzed by using 1-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests, while color coordinates of the specimens after polishing and after coffee thermocycling were compared by using paired samples t tests (α=.05).

Results: All materials had their highest R_avalues before polishing (P≤.011), while differences after polishing and after coffee thermocycling values were nonsignificant (P≥.140). PMMA had higher R_athan RCR before polishing (P=.002), and RCR had higher values than G-PMMA after polishing and after coffee thermocycling (P≤.023). RCR had the highest ΔE₀₀(P<.001). Polishing increased the b∗ values of PMMA, and coffee thermocycling increased the a∗ values of G-PMMA and all values of RCR (P≤.012).

Conclusions: The tested materials had similar and acceptable surface roughness after polishing. The surface roughness of materials was not affected by coffee thermocycling. Considering the reported color thresholds, all materials had acceptable color change, but the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing composite resin had perceptible color change after coffee thermocycling.