Production of Dental Separating Medium using Tapioca extracted from Manihot esculenta in Enugu, Nigeria

Tapioca is a starch extracted from the root of the cassava plant (Manihot exculenta). Cooks and bakers rely on it for baking and for soup thickener but in dentistry the appropriate mixture in weight and volume of starch, water, glycerin and ethyl alcohol forms separating medium. A separating medium prevents direct contact between the denture based resin and the model surface. This study aimed at production of dental separating medium using tapioca extracted from Manihot exculenta in Enugu, Nigeria. The research was carried out between August and September, 2018 in Enugu, Nigeria. The study adopted a three phased experimental approach using the same procedures but different weight and volume compositions. Structured, pretested Product Evaluation Data Sheet was used to evaluate the product by selected Practicing Dental Technologists in Enugu State, Nigeria. The resultant separating medium from experiment III with the following composition: starch flour 1200g, glycerin 500ml, ethyl alcohol 500ml, colorant 500ml and 4000ml of distilled (hot and cold) water. There was significant agreement among the respondents in the flow ability of the product 8(40%); excellent product effectiveness 8 (40%); smoothness 8 (40%), and color stability of the product 10 (50%). These findings suggests that dental separating medium can be produced locally in Enugu, Nigeria. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid in the production process, which will facilitate easy practice of Dental Technology, and also conserve huge foreign exchange being spent in the importation of separating medium in Nigeria.