title: A conventional microwave oven for denture cleaning: a critical review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Denture cleaning should be quick and easy to perform, especially in long-term care facilities. The lack of proper oral hygiene can put older adults at higher risk from opportunistic oral infections, particularly fungal. As an alternative to regular brushing, the use of a microwave oven has been suggested for cleaning and disinfecting dentures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To synthesise and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the use of a conventional microwave oven for cleaning and disinfecting complete dentures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A brief literature search focused on papers dealing with microwave therapy for denture cleaning through PubMed Central, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Google Scholar, Ovid MEDLINE(R) In-Process, and Scifinder Scholar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and sixty-seven manuscripts published in English with full text were found, and 28 were accepted and discussed in the light of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of conventional microwave oven for cleaning and disinfecting complete dentures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no standardisation for microwave use for denture cleaning. Manual cleaning still seemed to be the optimal method for controlling fungal infection and denture stomatitis. However, such a daily routine appeared to be underused, particularly in long-term care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. brondani@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Mario Augusto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brondani
authors.forename: Firoozeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samim
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000517:prevention & control; D003778:Dentures; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008872:Microwaves; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000517:prevention & control