Overnight storage of removable dentures in alkaline peroxide-based tablets affects biofilm mass and composition.
BACKGROUND
Clinical guidelines for denture care are available, but evidence for optimal nocturnal storage is scarce. The aim of the study was to compare the role of the overnight storage state on plaque growth and composition on acrylic removable dentures.


METHODS
In a parallel-group randomized controlled trial of 51 institutionalized participants, 3 denture overnight preservation methods were considered: (i) in water, (ii) dry or (iii) in water with added alkaline peroxide-based cleansing tablet. Biofilm samples were taken on day 7 (developing biofilm - dBF) and day 14 (maturing biofilm - mBF) from a mechanically uncleaned, standardized region, situated distally to the second lower premolars. Total and individual levels of selected perio-pathogenic and commensal species (n=20), and of Candida albicans were calculated by PCR. Differences between storage conditions (water/dry/tablet) and between the samples (dBF/mBF) were assessed by means of unpaired and paired t-tests respectively, with α=5%.


RESULTS
Overnight denture storage with cleansing tablet significantly decreased the total bacterial level of dBF and mBF up to 13.8%. Fn, Ec, Cs, Sc, Ao and Vp counts were particularly affected by tablet care. Significant lower amounts of Candida albicans for tablet storage compared to water preservation were recorded in dBF and mBF (-69.3 ± 3.8% and -75.9 ± 3.2% respectively). The mass and pathogenicity of dBF and mBF was equal, irrespective of the overnight storage intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of cleansing tablets for acrylic removable denture overnight storage reduces denture biofilm mass and pathogenicity compared to dry and water preservation, and may contribute to the overall systemic health.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence-based clinical guidelines for overnight storage of removable acrylic dentures are lacking. The findings of this study indicate that alkaline peroxide-based cleansing tablets decrease bacterial and Candida levels in denture biofilms in case of poor oral hygiene. This provides evidence for a clinical guideline to minimize microbial load of dentures, thereby reducing associated systemic health risks.
BIOMAT Research Cluster & Prosthetics Section, Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven & University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Joke.Duyck@med.kuleuven.be.
J
J
Duyck
K
K
Vandamme
P
P
Muller
W
W
Teughels
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000468:Alkalies; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D001881:Borates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003764:Dental Materials; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D003820:Denture Cleansers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003824:Denture, Complete; D003890:Desiccation; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D010545:Peroxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020160:Sodium Benzoate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000468:Alkalies; D001881:Borates; D003764:Dental Materials; D003820:Denture Cleansers; D010545:Peroxides; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; C540407:corega tabs; D014867:Water; C048813:potassium peroxymonosulfuric acid; D020160:Sodium Benzoate; C027707:sodium perborate
Acrylic removable denture; Candida albicans; Clinical trial; Microbiology; Nocturnal storage; Randomized