Evaluating denture cleanliness of patients in a regional dental hospital

Abstract

outline the use of the Denture Cleanliness Index in a secondary dental care setting. DCT in Restorative Dentistry IntroductionIn order to achieve optimal oral health it is well documented in the literature that denture wearing patients should be advised to maintain high standards of both oral hygiene and denture hygiene. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Dentures can accumulate plaque and develop calculus deposits in a manner similar to natural teeth, and the composition of denture plaque differs when compared with dental plaque. Studies have shown that denture plaque can contain a number of potentially harmful microorganisms including: Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Steptococcus mutans. 7-11Previous studies indicate that inadequate denture hygiene can lead to an increase in accumulation of denture plaque, which can then increase the risk of developing oral and dental diseases such as dental decay, periodontal disease, and denture stomatitis. 4,[10][11][12][13] Unfortunately many patients have been shown to have inadequate denture hygiene and some still wear their dentures at night, despite evidence that nocturnal denture wearing is linked to a decrease in oral health and provides no benefit to patients' quality of sleep. 5,12,14,15 A number of different cleaning regimes are available for patients to clean their dentures and they can be classified into either chemical or mechanical methods. According to a number of different studies and surveys evaluating the denture hygiene habits of patients, the most commonly used mechanical method is a toothbrush with soap and water or toothpaste, while the most commonly used chemical method is either sodium hypochlorite-based cleaner or a peroxide-based cleaner. 1,2,5,14,16,17 Evidence from studies conducted outside the UK provides evidence of the denture care habits and the quality of denture hygiene of non-UK cohorts. Their results may potentially be used to inform on the denture care advice given to UK denture wearers, however, there likely will be potential differences in the availability of denture care materials and in patient denture care/hygiene attitudes. Few studies and surveys have been conducted in the UK which outline the quality of patients' denture hygiene, their denture cleaning habits, and the quality of clinical record keeping.The purpose of this article is to outline the results of a clinical audit conducted in the prosthodontics department of a regional dental hospital. It follows on from work conducted within general dental practice and seeks to determine whether denture hygiene differs between a primary care and secondary care cohort; this comparison has yet to be published in the available literature. CPD questionsThis article will earn you one hour of verifiable CPD.To access the free BDA CPD hub, go to:http://bit.ly/2e3G0sv© 2 0 1 6 B r i t i s h D e n t a l A s s o c i a t i o n . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d .

Development of a United Kingdom–centric cost-effectiveness model for denture cleaning strategies

“…The model could also be presented to a group of denture wearers (via patient focus groups) to assess the robustness of the results in terms of whether the cost of a DS-free day with denture cleansers is considered reasonable, how easily the model can be understood, and whether it could be improved. Additional aspects that could be incorporated into the model include patient satisfaction with the care strategies (denture cleanliness) by using tools such as the quantitative denture cleanliness index 21 and patient preference for the different cleaning strategies by using an economic instrument of willingness to pay. 22 Finally, how the cost-effectiveness of the different strategies might vary according to whether the patient wears partial or complete dentures could also be explored in new versions of the model.…”

“…The authors are unaware of attempts to develop such a model for DS. [21][22][23][24] Therefore, this proof-of-concept approach examined the null hypothesis that developing a cost-effectiveness model to assess the potential benefits of using denture cleansers from a patient perspective in the UK is not feasible.…”

Denture cleanliness and hygiene: an overview

“…2,3,4,5 Most patients exhibit poor denture hygiene due to inadequate knowledge of optimal/ correct cleaning techniques 6,7,8 and a lack of standardisation in denture hygiene assessments; dentists infrequently assess and record patients' denture hygiene status. 9,10 Poor denture hygiene leads to increased risk of dental caries, periodontal disease, denture stomatitis and halitosis. 6,11,12 Improper denture care negatively impacts denture clinical longevity and increases denture plaque aggregation.…”

“…The dental team is best suited to help provide patients with the necessary oral and denture hygiene education. 9,10,16,17 This paper provides an overview of the key legislation, current and future methods of denture care and hygiene and compatibility with existing denture materials. It also offers recommendations according to denture material type.…”

Awareness of Denture Cleansers and its Recognition among Dental Professionals

“…Bacteria, plaque, and tartar deposition occurs on denture surface just as in our natural dentition. Accumulation of plaque and microorganisms increases the risk of oral diseases such as, dental caries, periodontal diseases and systemic diseases 1,2,[4][5][6][7] . Therefore, it is important to emphasize on denture hygiene particularly in elderly population as they are more prone to immunity declines.…”