Weight loss of five commercially available denture teeth after toothbrushing with three different dentifrices

Abstract

Brushing is the most common cleansing method employed on complete dentures and it may damage the integrity of acrylic resin, the main component of this type of prosthesis. This study evaluated the abrasion resistance of artificial teeth with different number of acrylic layers, and the abrasiveness of specific and non-specific dentifrices for denture cleaning. The abrasion test was conducted by a tooth brushing device, using soft toothbrushes under load (200g). Sixty artificial teeth specimens were manufactured, 12 from each brand: Vipi-Dent Plus (Dental Vipi), Trubyte Biotone (Dentsply), Trilux (Ruthinium), Ivostar (Ivoclar) and SR Vivodent PE (Ivoclar). Three brands of dentifrices were selected: Colgate (Colgate-Palmolive), Bonyplus (Bonyf AG) and Dentu-Creme (Dentco). Distilled water was used as control. The brushing time was 100 minutes, at 356 strokes/minute. The specimens were weighed on an analytical balance before and after the abrasion test. Analysis of dentifrices' abrasive particles was made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were employed (a=0.05). The general mean of weight loss values were obtained: 6.1 mg (Ivostar); 6.0 mg (Trilux); 5.9 mg (Trubyte); 5.8 mg (Vipi); 5.3 mg (Vivodent). The abrasiveness difference among teeth brands was not statistically significant. The Colgate dentifrice produced the greatest weight reduction (10.1 mg), followed by Dentu-Creme (7.6 mg). Bonyplus was the least abrasive (2.4 mg), similar to the distilled water used as control group (3.1 mg) (p=0.05). It was concluded that all acrylic teeth presented similar abrasion resistance. Specific dentifrices for dentures tend to cause less damage to acrylic resin.

Evaluation of the Abrasiveness of Dentifrices for Complete Dentures

“…A toothbrush with soft bristles was chosen with the aim of preventing wear of the denture base or the artificial teeth, and because such brushes are readily available products, and also widely used by complete denture wearers. This is in accordance with some authors who suggest that stiff bristles that are flexible and made of nylon have low abrasivity 13,33,34 …”

“…The brushes and the suspension were replaced every 50 minutes. With the replacement of the suspensions, the level of abrasion is probably higher because of the precipitation of the particles 34 …”

Adverse Effects on PMMA Caused by Mechanical and Combined Methods of Denture Cleansing

“…The lowest mass loss occurred for the Polident dentifrice (specific). These results are in agreement with previous studies that employed acrylic resins and artificial teeth as substrate and found that the Dentu Creme, a specific dentifrice for complete denture which contains the same abrasive system of Polident, was considered of low abrasiveness (7,9). The obtained results also showed low abrasiveness in Plexiglass acrylic (cast PMMA).…”

“…The adverse effects caused by these agents, when used as isolated method, have been reported in the literature. Thus, brushing can wear the denture base and artificial teeth (7)(8)(9)(10)(11) and hypochlorite solutions may alter color, surface roughness and flexion resistance of acrylic resins (12)(13)(14)(15). However, the interaction between both methods has not been widely investigated.…”

Effect of Different Dentifrices on the Surface Roughness of Acrylic Resins: An in vitro Study

“…Richmond et al 15 also confirmed the results that the abrasive potential of the dentifrices is due to the components, concentration, and size of the abrasive particles present in the dentifrice. Freitas and Paranhos 16 also stated that cleaning of dentures without dentifrices causes less surface roughness than the toothbrush with dentifrice. The results of this study are in accordance with the study by Ulusoy et al, 17 which demonstrated lower surface roughness when abrasives of the finest grit are used in the dentifrices.…”