Influence of cleansing regimen on denture water sorption and solubility

Despite appearances to the contrary, even the best made dentures may have pores or networks of channels into which water or saliva can penetrate. If not allowed to dry completely, this water can contribute to the undesirable growth of microorganisms. Certain pathogens, such as C. albicans, are actually quite vulnerable to the adverse conditions of dryout. As a result, rapid elimination of water from the interior of the denture after cleansing is highly desirable. Potentially, the usage of surfactants during the cleaning process could influence the surface free energy of the denture resulting in greater release of moisture. Objectives: To study the effect of a variety of commercial effervescent tablet denture cleansers on the retention and interaction of water with the denture. Methods: Substrates of three commonly used denture base materials (Dentsply Lucitone 199®, Fricke Dental Hi-I®, and Heraeus Kulzer Paladur®) were prepared in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations using standard dental laboratory procedures. After processing, substrates were immersed in the cleanser solutions for 1000 hours. Following immersion, substrates were examined to determine the extent of water sorption, the solubility of the denture material, and any resulting changes in hardness of the denture. Results: Denture resin substrates treated with the commercial cleansing solutions had directionally less water sorption than substrates treated with water alone. (Cleanser Treated Avg 1.52 +/- 0.24 % vs. Water 1.87 +/- 0.17 %) Solubility and hardness measurements were comparable for all samples, regardless of treatment. Conclusions: No undesirable effects from the usage of surfactant-based cleansing solutions on hardness or denture resin solubility were observed. The potential benefit of enhanced elimination of water from the denture warrants further investigation. Disclosure: Research supported by GlaxoSmithKline