Attachment of Streptococcus oralis on acrylic substrates of varying roughness.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the surface roughness of denture acrylic on the attachment of Streptococcus oralis.


RESULTS
Roughened denture acrylic samples were assessed for bacterial attachment, over time, using microscopy. The area of the image covered by bacteria was calculated and converted into a percentage of the total area sampled. The results showed an increasing bacterial coverage with time of incubation and increasing roughness. Differences were seen between heat cured acrylic and cold cured acrylic.


CONCLUSIONS
This study successfully demonstrated a system for the assessment of the amount of attached bacteria on denture acrylic varying roughness. The system was able to discern the difference in surface area coverage by attached bacteria over a roughness range relevant to brushing dentures with dentifrices.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides strong support for the scratches caused by brushing dentures with dentifrice encouraging bacterial attachment. This is likely to have a significant effect on efficacy of denture cleaning, general hygiene and biofilm re-formation between cleaning regimens and may indicate that alternative low abrasive cleaners, such as antimicrobial denture-cleaning tablets, offer a more appropriate regimen.
Charman
K M
KM
GlaxoSmithKline, Weybridge, Surrey, UK.
Fernandez
P
P
Loewy
Z
Z
Middleton
A M
AM
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003802:Dentifrices; D003778:Dentures; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D019533:Streptococcus oralis / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003802:Dentifrices; D014100:Toothpastes