Chemical hygiene protocols for complete dentures: A crossover randomized clinical trial

Area of Science:

• Oral Microbiology
• Prosthodontics
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Limited clinical data exists on optimal chemical protocols for disinfecting and removing biofilm from complete dentures.
• Biofilm accumulation on dentures can lead to oral health issues and prosthetic infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of different chemical hygiene protocols in reducing microbial viability of denture biofilm.
• To compare the effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite, chlorhexidine gluconate, and sodium bicarbonate against water as a placebo.

Main Methods:

• A triple-blind, crossover randomized clinical trial involving 40 complete denture wearers without candidiasis.
• Participants used water, 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, or 5% sodium bicarbonate solutions.
• Biofilm samples from denture intaglio and teeth were assessed for microbial viability on days 7 and 14.

Main Results:

• Sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine significantly reduced total microorganisms and Streptococcus mutans counts compared to water and sodium bicarbonate.
• Neither water nor sodium bicarbonate soaking effectively decreased Candida albicans, C. non-albicans, or lactobacillus counts.
• Higher microbial counts were consistently found on the intaglio surface of dentures compared to denture teeth.

Conclusions:

• Sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine, combined with mechanical cleansing, are effective in reducing microbial viability in healthy complete denture wearers.
• These chemical agents offer a promising approach for improving denture hygiene and preventing microbial-associated complications.