The effectiveness of chemical denture cleansers and ultrasonic device in biofilm removal from complete dentures.
Adequate denture hygiene can prevent and treat infection in edentulous patients. They are usually elderly and have difficulty for brushing their teeth.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the efficacy of complete denture biofilm removal using chemical (alkaline peroxide-effervescent tablets), mechanical (ultrasonic) and combined (association of the effervescent and ultrasonic) methods.


METHODS
Eighty complete denture wearers participated in the experiment for 21 days. They were distributed into 4 groups (n=20): (1) Brushing with water (Control); (2) Effervescent tablets (Corega Tabs); (3) Ultrasonic device (Ultrasonic Cleaner, model 2840 D); (4) Association of effervescent tablets and ultrasonic device. All groups brushed their dentures with a specific brush (Bitufo) and water, 3 times a day, before applying their treatments. Denture biofilm was collected at baseline and after 21 days. To quantify the biofilm, the internal surfaces of the maxillary complete dentures were stained and photographed at 45º. The photographs were processed and the areas (total internal surface stained with biofilm) quantified (Image Tool 2.02). The percentage of the biofilm was calculated by the ratio between the biofilm area multiplied by 100 and the total area of the internal surface of the maxillary complete denture.


RESULTS
The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison among groups followed by the Dunn multiple-comparison test. All tests were performed respecting a significance level of 0.05. Significant difference was found among the treatments (KW=21.18; P<0.001), the mean ranks for the treatments and results for Dunn multiple comparison test were: Control (60.9); Chemical (37.2); Mechanical (35.2) and Combined (29.1).


CONCLUSIONS
The experimental methods were equally effective regarding the ability to remove biofilm and were superior to the control method (brushing with water). Immersion in alkaline peroxide and ultrasonic vibration can be used as auxiliary agents for cleaning complete dentures.
Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Patrícia Costa
PC
Cruz
Ingrid Machado de
IM
Andrade
Amanda
A
Peracini
Maria Cristina Monteiro de
MC
Souza-Gugelmin
Cláudia Helena
CH
Silva-Lovato
Raphael Freitas
RF
de Souza
Helena de Freitas Oliveira
Hde F
Paranhos
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003820:Denture Cleansers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
D003820:Denture Cleansers