Comparative stain removal properties of four commercially available denture cleaning products: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES

Formulations of commercially available denture cleaners vary widely. Unfortunately, comparative data to suggest which products are the most effective can become invalid as newer products are introduced or formulations are changed. The aim of this in vitro study was to measure the stain removal properties of four currently available denture cleaners.

METHODS

Stain was deposited on multi-well polystyrene saliva coated microplates using multiple chlorhexidine and tea solutions. Following drying, each stained well was exposed to a solution of denture cleaner, dried again and the amount of stain remaining measured using a microplate reader. The cleaning procedure was repeated with further multiple exposures of the wells to solutions of the denture cleaners.

RESULTS

All denture cleaners removed stain better than water used as a control. At five cleaning cycles only one of the cleaners (Superdrug Cleaning Powder) had removed 100% of the stain. At 30 cycles three of the cleaners had removed 100% of the stain.

CONCLUSIONS

All the commercial denture cleaners removed stain. Superdrug Cleaning Powder, which contains sodium percarbonate and sodium lauryl sulphate, was particularly effective.