Effect of air-particle abrasion on the retention and texture of the maxillary complete denture

To examine the effect of air abrasive particles on the retention of maxillary complete dentures.

Twenty edentulous subjects, aged 48-72 years with a mean age of 62.2 years were selected. Subjects had questionable satisfaction regarding the retention of their existing maxillary complete dentures, and satisfactory denture bearing tissue with no visible undercuts. Existing dentures were tested for retention before and after air abrasion. Then, new maxillary complete dentures were constructed for them, and tested before and after partial air abrasion. Ten of the subjects continued with a new set of dentures, to test the effect of air abrasion of the entire fitting surface. A specially designed strain gauge force transducer and a strain indicator unit were used to measure forces that required dislodging the denture from its foundation. Retention force was measured before and after the fitting surface of the dentures was uniformly air-particle abraded with 50 microm aluminum oxide abrasive particles under 4 Kg/cm2 of pressure with a quick circling motion at 10-15 mm distance for 30 seconds.

The results showed significant improvement in the mean retention forces of the new and the existing well-fitting maxillary complete dentures at all time intervals after air-particle abrasion of part and entire fitting surfaces, while the mean retention forces for the poorly fitting dentures showed only non-significant, slightly increased retention at all time intervals after the fitting surface was air-particle abraded.