Managing your patients’ denture care
Maintaining the performance of dentures
There are a number of individual patient factors which can mean patients need help maintaining the performance of their dentures. These could be physical, clinical or behavioural, including:
- Oral anatomy – where the available surface area for adhesion is restricted1,2
- Xerostomia (dry mouth) – which can disrupt normal denture retention1
- Immediate full dentures – where fit may change over time as bone resorption occurs after tooth extraction3
- Preservation of natural teeth – where excessive functional forces may cause tooth mobility or loss4,5
- Patient psychology – how patients adapt to their denture3,6
- Denture hygiene – where the cleaning method or frequency results in poor denture hygiene and risks oral health5,7,8
- Denture stomatitis – caused by long-term inadequate denture cleaning or wearing dentures overnight9
Managing denture care: how denture adhesives and denture cleansers can help patients maintain performance
Denture adhesives – helping maintain denture performance
When patients present with individual medical, physical or psychological factors that affect denture performance, denture adhesives can help by improving retention, stability and patient perceptions of fit and comfort.2
For patients with limited oral anatomy, denture adhesives:
- Improved retention in best-fitting dentures*1
- Improved stability in best-fitting dentures*2
- Helped manage gradual soft and hard tissue changes over time2
*Patients with small jaws or very flat alveolar ridges (small basal seats) cannot expect retention to be as great as can patients with large jaws or prominent alveoli.1 If increasing amounts of adhesives are required to achieve the same level of denture retention, the patient should see a dentist or dental professional to evaluate the fit and stability of the dentures.2
For patient with xerostomia, denture adhesives were reported by patients:
- To increase retention in best-fitting dentures10
- To increase ability to chew in best-fitting dentures10
For patients with immediate full dentures, denture adhesives:
- Improved retention11
- Improved stability11
- Provided a cushioning effect12
For patient with partial dentures, a denture adhesive can stabilise and secure dentures.13
For some patients who need help adapting to their denture, denture adhesives can improve denture retention and seal out food particles, helping patients adapt to their denture and improving their experience.
ACP guidelines
“…patient ratings showed that denture adhesives may improve the denture wearer’s perceptions in retention, stability, and quality of life…”2
Studies into managing patients’ denture care
Denture cleansers – helping maintain dentures’ hygienic performance
When patients present with individual medical, physical or psychological factors that affect dentures’ hygienic performance, denture cleansers can help improve denture hygiene and kill the bacteria associated with denture stomatitis.2,14–16
Patients with poor denture hygiene achieved more effective cleaning when brushing was combined with a denture cleanser:
- Significantly larger reduction in plaque15,16
- Significantly larger reduction in total bacteria15,16
Denture cleansers can kill significantly more of the bacteria associated with denture stomatitis compared with other cleaning agents, such as antimicrobial toothpaste.14
*vs. no adhesive. The material integrity of denture materials, including polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and metals, was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and profilometry after treatment with laboratory regimens simulating 2 years of typical consumer use. Treatments were also evaluated in a microbial kill time assay against a range of oral microorganisms with typical treatment regimens.14†Colgate Total toothpaste
ACP guidelines
“Dentures should be cleaned daily by soaking and brushing with an effective, nonabrasive denture cleanser.”2
Continuing denture care
In addition to daily denture care at home, patients need regular professional contact to ensure that their oral health is maintained.17
3-monthly recall during the first year of denture use.18
6–12-monthly check-ups to detect the presense of early caries or periodontal diseases.19
Managing denture care and helping your patients on their journey to optimal denture care
Causes and mechanisms
Find out more about the factors that can limit denture performance and compromise hygiene
Impact on patient quality of life
Find out about the impact that dentures have on patients’ daily lives
