Prevention of bacterial adhesion to denture acrylic

A range of non-toxic polysaccharides were screened for their ability to prevent bacterial adhesion to denture acrylic in vitro. Sodium alginate, karaya gum and carrageenan were found to be the most effective, reducing adhesion of Streptococcus salivarius by 98.7, 97.9 and 99.2 per cent respectively. These three polysaccharides were then tested for their ability to reduce the number of bacteria adhering to dentures in vivo. Sodium alginate was the most effective, reducing the attachment of bacteria to the palate-contacting surface of the denture after 5 h of normal wear by 84 per cent compared with uncoated controls. The results of this investigation suggest that the accumulation of denture plaque may be prevented by frequent application of a renewable, sacrificial coating of a non-toxic polysaccharide.