Denture adhesives--pH and buffering capacity

Aqueous solutions of some denture adhesives will produce a pH below the critical pH of hydroxyapatite. This article measured the pH of selected denture adhesives. The pH and buffering capacity were established for 10 readily available denture adhesives. The pH was determined from samples in dilutions of 1:10, 1:20, 1:30, and 1:40 denture adhesive to deionized water. A glass pH electrode coupled to a pH meter was used for pH determination. Six of the 10 denture adhesives tested had pH values below the critical pH of hydroxyapatite. This pH was maintained for the 2-hour duration of the testing. Prolonged contact of denture adhesive and tooth substances may dissolve hydroxyapatite crystals. Samples of denture adhesives to determine buffering capacity were prepared in a ratio of 1:20 by weight of denture adhesive to deionized water. Another series of samples was prepared in a ratio of 1:20 by weight of adhesive to freshly cannulated submandibular saliva. The pH was determined at the 24-hour time interval. Samples were then titrated with 0.1N sodium hydroxide solution in the presence of phenolphthalein. The same denture adhesives demonstrated low pH values at the 2-hour and 24-hour time intervals. These samples tended to be well buffered. It is recommended that denture adhesives with low pH values not be used in an environment with natural teeth or remnants of natural teeth.