Evaluation of stain removal and inhibition properties of eight denture cleansers: an in vitro study

Gerodontology 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00522.x Evaluation of stain removal and inhibition properties of eight denture cleansers: an in vitro study Objectives: To determine the ability of eight denture cleansers to remove and inhibit tea-stain build-up on acrylic resin. Materials and methods: In the stain removal study, Perspex (R) (cast heat polymerised resin) specimens previously soaked in saliva were stained using multiple exposures of chlorhexidine and tea solutions. Specimens were exposed for 1min to one of the eight denture cleansers for five cycles, washed and dried and their optical density read on a uv/vis spectrophotometer at 295nm. In the stain inhibition study, clear specimens were exposed to saliva followed by cleansers then tea solution, for five cycles. The build-up of stain at each cycle was measured, and differences in optical densities from baseline were calculated. Results: All denture cleansers were significantly more effective than water in removing stain (p<0.05). There were significant differences in cleaning ability between cleansers (p<0.001), Dentural (R) and Kleenite (R) were particularly effective. The stain inhibition experiment showed that most cleansers were significantly more effective than water in inhibiting stain (p<0.05). There were significant differences in inhibition ability between cleansers (p<0.01). Kleenite (R) and Equate were particularly effective. Conclusions: All denture cleansers had a capacity to remove stain and most had an inhibitory effect on staining. Kleenite (R) was particularly effective in controlling stain formation.