This study aimed to measure the color change, surface roughness and flexural strength of heat-polymerized acrylic resin after its immersion in denture cleansers, simulating a 180-day use. Thirty disk-shaped (15mm x 4mm) and 30 rectangular samples (65mm x 10mm x 3.3mm) were prepared from heat-polymerized acrylic resin and immersed in Corega Tabs, Bony Plus, and distilled water. Color measurements (DeltaE) were determined by a portable colorimeter. A surface analyzer was used to measure the roughness before and after immersion (DeltaRa). The flexural strength (S) was measured using a 3-point bending test. The DeltaE values were submitted to statistical analysis by the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn's Multiple Comparisons test. The DeltaRa and S values were submitted to statistical analysis by ANOVA, followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls test (alpha=.05). The color changes were significantly higher for the Corega Tabs than for the control group. The mean DeltaE values quantified by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) were classified as Trace (0.0-0.5). The Bony Plus group had significantly higher surface roughness than the other groups. Corega Tabs and Bony Plus groups presented lower flexural strength than the control group. Although the color changes after the immersion in denture cleansers were clinically insignificant, the Corega Tabs group showed higher color differences. The Bony Plus group showed significantly increased surface roughness. Both effervescent tablets Corega Tabs and Bony Plus significantly diminished the flexural strength of the acrylic resin.

This study evaluated color stability, surface roughness and flexural strength of acrylic resin specimens after immersion in alkaline peroxide and alkaline hypochlorite, simulating a period of one and a half year of use of overnight immersion. Sixty disc-shaped (16X4 mm) and 80 rectangular specimens (65X10X3.3 mm) were prepared from heat-polymerized acrylic resin (Lucitone 550) and distributed into 4 groups (n=20): C1: without immersion, C2: 8 h immersion in distilled water; AP: 8 h immersion in alkaline peroxide effervescent tablet; SH: 8 h immersion in 0.5% NaOCl solution. Properties were evaluated at baseline and after the immersion. Color data were also calculated according the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test (α=0.05). AP (2.34 ± 0.41) caused color alteration significantly higher than C2 (0.39 ± 0.30) and SH (1.73 ± 0.52). The mean ΔE values were classified as indicial for C2 (0.36 ± 0.29) and noticeable for AP (2.12 ± 0.39) and SH (1.59 ± 0.48). SH (0.0195 ± 0.0150) caused significantly higher ΔRa (p=0.000) than the C2 (0.0005 ± 0.0115) and PA (0.0005 ± 0.0157) groups. There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.063) among the solutions for flexural strength (C1: 105.43 ± 14.93, C2: 100.30 ± 12.43, PA: 97.61 ± 11.09, SH: 95.23 ± 10.18). In conclusion, overnight immersion in denture cleansing solutions simulating a year and a half of use did not alter the flexural strength of acrylic resin but caused noticeable color alterations, higher for alkaline peroxide. The 0.5% NaOCl solution caused increase in surface roughness.

In this study, a questionnaire was applied to patients from Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the hygiene methods and habits concerning the use of complete dentures, the age of dentures, and whether patients have been instructed on how to clean their dentures. The mean age of patients was 63.35 years, and most of them were females (82.08%). The results showed that 62.26% of the respondents had been using the same maxillary complete denture for more than 5 years, and 49.06% used the same mandible complete denture for more than 5 years. Of the patients interviewed, 58.49% slept with the dentures. Mechanical brushing was the most used cleaning method by the patients (100%), using water, dentifrice and toothbrush (84.91%). Most patients (51.89%) reported never having been instructed by their dentists as to how to clean their dentures. Based on the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the patients interviewed had limited knowledge about prosthetic hygiene and oral care. The method more used by patients was the mechanical method of brushing, most patients used the same complete dentures for more than 5 years and slept with the dentures.

This study evaluated the efficacy of complete denture biofilm removal using chemical (alkaline peroxide-effervescent tablets), mechanical (ultrasonic) and combined (association of the effervescent and ultrasonic) methods. Eighty complete denture wearers participated in the experiment for 21 days. They were distributed into 4 groups (n=20): (1) Brushing with water (Control); (2) Effervescent tablets (Corega Tabs); (3) Ultrasonic device (Ultrasonic Cleaner, model 2840 D); (4) Association of effervescent tablets and ultrasonic device. All groups brushed their dentures with a specific brush (Bitufo) and water, 3 times a day, before applying their treatments. Denture biofilm was collected at baseline and after 21 days. To quantify the biofilm, the internal surfaces of the maxillary complete dentures were stained and photographed at 45º. The photographs were processed and the areas (total internal surface stained with biofilm) quantified (Image Tool 2.02). The percentage of the biofilm was calculated by the ratio between the biofilm area multiplied by 100 and the total area of the internal surface of the maxillary complete denture. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison among groups followed by the Dunn multiple-comparison test. All tests were performed respecting a significance level of 0.05. Significant difference was found among the treatments (KW=21.18; P<0.001), the mean ranks for the treatments and results for Dunn multiple comparison test were: Control (60.9); Chemical (37.2); Mechanical (35.2) and Combined (29.1). The experimental methods were equally effective regarding the ability to remove biofilm and were superior to the control method (brushing with water). Immersion in alkaline peroxide and ultrasonic vibration can be used as auxiliary agents for cleaning complete dentures.