Introduction
A dental prosthesis is a replacement of missing natural teeth, which in dentistry is counted among the group of removable dentures. Within this group we further differentiate between partial dentures (partial prosthesis), total dentures and combined dentures, which have both removable and fixed parts. While a partial denture only serves to replace individual, missing natural teeth, the full denture is equipped with a complete set of teeth.
Partial dentures are fixed to the remaining teeth in the jaw with the help of hooks and clasps, whereas a total denture builds up its hold in the jaw by means of negative pressure and so-called adhesive forces. For this reason, proper fabrication and optimal fit is much more important for a total prosthesis than for a partial denture. In order to keep the denture in a wearable condition for as long as possible, regular removal from the oral cavity and appropriate denture cleaning are particularly important.
Denture cleaning tablets
In general, a dental prosthesis, whether it is a partial or complete denture, should be removed from the oral cavity overnight and thoroughly cleaned. Failure to take regular care of dentures can quickly lead to unsightly color deposits on the denture material. After some time, these can hardly be removed and are often felt unpleasant and embarrassing by the wearer of the prosthesis.
In order to prevent the development of such discoloration, it is recommended to start cleaning the denture by brushing it off. A simple toothbrush with medium bristles and some toothpaste can be used for this purpose. After brushing, the denture should be rinsed thoroughly with clear water.
During the night it is recommended to continue the denture cleaning with the help of special tablets. Denture cleaning tablets are offered by the manufacturers in different forms. The exact instructions for use also differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.
In general, tablets for denture cleaning must be dissolved in approximately one cup of clear water before the removable denture is inserted. However, there are also denture cleaning tablets where the denture should already be in the cup filled with clear water during the dissolving process. The effervescent effect of these tablets during dissolving should actively support the cleaning process.
The ingredients of the various tablets for cleaning dentures are mainly surfactants and polyphosphates. Surfactants are able to reduce the surface tension of clear water and dissolve deposits on the surface of removable dentures. Polyphosphates, on the other hand, are able to soften the water used and thus strengthen the effect of the other ingredients.
In addition, the standard tablets for denture cleaning contain special antibacterial substances that not only prevent the reproduction of germs, but also effectively eliminate existing bacteria. However, since it is not possible to use potentially toxic substances to kill germs when removing and wearing removable dentures, the denture cleaning tablet manufacturers use active oxygen, which is released from a substance called sodium peroxoborate. As a rule, denture cleaning tablets form an alkaline solution (pH >7) when dissolved in water.
In addition to these cleaning agents, however, tablets are also produced that form an acidic compound with water (pH <7). This type of denture cleaning tablets contain organic acids (e.g. citric acid) and offer the advantage that they are also able to remove solid tartar deposits on dentures. In addition to these features, denture cleaning tablets are also distinguished according to their duration of action.
In the case of so-called quick-cleaning tablets, it is usually sufficient to allow the removable denture to soak for a period of 10 to 30 minutes. Prosthesis cleaning tablets with long-term effect need about 6 to 8 hours to effectively dissolve all deposits from the denture material. The manufacturer’s instructions regarding the length of time the tablet should be left in place should not be exceeded, because a denture that is not soaked in the solution long enough cannot be cleaned thoroughly.
Removable dentures that remain in the cleaning solution for too long can develop defects in the denture material.After using the tablets to clean the prosthesis, the prosthesis must not be put back into the oral cavity immediately. First the denture must be rinsed with clear water. Ideally, the denture wearer then carries out another cleaning cycle with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
By thoroughly brushing and rinsing the removable denture and additionally using denture cleaning tablets, the bacterial colonization on the surface of the artificial teeth can be effectively reduced. The disadvantage of these cleaning methods, however, is the fact that the fungus (Candida albicans), which often occurs inside the oral cavity, cannot be attacked. For this reason, regular use of chlorhexidine rinsing solutions can round off the denture cleaning and also eliminate the dangerous Candida fungus.
