Influence of varnish application on a tissue conditioner: analysis of biofilm adhesion

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the use of a varnish on a tissue conditioner would affect biofilm adhesion.

After the surgery has been performed, before the delivery of a complete denture, it is often necessary to use materials such as tissue conditioners on the surgical wound. However, these materials present deficient physico-mechanical properties, which allow biofilm development.

Forty elderly volunteers wearing complete maxillary dentures were selected. They were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 20), G1 and G2. In both groups, a silicone-based tissue conditioner was placed in a recess created at the base of the denture, according to the manufacturer's guidelines. In group G1, a varnish was applied to the tissue conditioner, while in group G2, no treatment was applied. All volunteers performed daily hygiene of the prosthesis with a soft toothbrush, and toothpaste. Quantification of the mean score values of biofilm formed at different time points (baseline, 1 week and 3 weeks) was statistically analysed using anova (alpha = 0.05).

Group G2 (1.6 +/- 1.2) showed the lowest mean score values of biofilm formation and there was a statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.03). The highest mean score values were found after 3 weeks (2.7 +/- 1.4) and were statistically different from the other time points studied (baseline and 1 week).

The use of a varnish had a detrimental effect on the tissue conditioner studied, allowing higher biofilm formation.