The influence of denture cleansers on the release of organic compounds from soft lining materials

Biocompatibility constitutes the most fundamental requirement with respect to all dental materials to be applied within the oral cavity. In its environment, various toxic compounds may be released by dental materials which pose potential threats to the patient's health. Due to the fact that dentures remain in the oral cavity for a very long time, a detailed examination and verification of prosthetic materials with a view to their toxicity seems to be essential. By using very sensitive measurement techniques such as gas chromatography, one may determine which compounds are released by these materials. The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of various denture cleansers on the release of organic compounds from four soft dental materials used in prosthetics for lining dentures. These materials when placed in commonly used disinfectants (Corega Tabs, sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide), as well as in artificial saliva, produced 13 chemical compounds such as monomers (methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate), plasticizers (dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, tributyl acetylcitrate) and others (e.g. benzophenone). A comparison of chemical compounds released from acrylic-based materials and those released from silica-based materials demonstrated that acrylic-based materials are less resistant to disinfectants.