According to the UN, the 65 and over age group is growing faster than all other age groups globally. [1] And as we all know, the older you get the more likely you are to have lost most of your natural teeth and to use dentures as a result. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a good set of guidelines for full denture adhesives. This means that any advice on how to apply denture adhesives, which ones to use, how often, and how much denture adhesive you need to use varies greatly.
Important Findings
A panel of experts researched many different issues relating to dental adhesives. Here are their conclusions:
– The overall success of prosthodontic treatment for full dentures is greatly influenced by patient satisfaction
– Denture adhesives enhance the retention of full well-fitting dentures and reduce the accumulation of food particles beneath them
– Denture adhesives offer significant benefits for patients. They can increase comfort, confidence, satisfaction, and improve denture function by improving retention.
– Significant deficiencies in full dentures cannot be compensated with an effective denture adhesive.
– Every dental professional should offer instruction to their patient. These instructions should include how to correctly apply adhesives, as well as how to remove and clean dentures.
– Patients with well-fitting dentures might only need guidance during review appointments, while others could need it during the fitting and much sooner afterward.
Guideline Summary
Peer-reviewed evidence and consensus between international experts are the basis for these guidelines.
Below you’ll find four important steps for the best denture care summarized, but also full instructions in the resource section.
1. Always make sure that your dentures are dry and clean before putting a small amount of adhesive cream. This should be performed only once a day if everything is done right.
2. Once you’ve applied the adhesive, place the dentures in your mouth and close it firmly for a few seconds. If any of the cream flows out, you need to use less of it next time. Always remove the excess adhesive and be careful not to swallow it. Moreover, don’t drink or eat for anything for the next 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Before going to sleep, you should always take care to remove your dentures. Following that, thoroughly clean your mouth and the denture to remove all the leftover adhesive.
4. Don’t forget to book regular appointments with your dentist and ask them to take a look at your dentures and mouth.
Resources
Guidelines for the Use of Denture Adhesives and their benefits for Oral and General Health (PDF 2MB) [2]
Infographic: Simple steps on how to apply a Denture Adhesive (PDF 2MB) [3]
[1]https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/ageing/
[2]https://www.dentalhealth.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=aa48e389-9c7f-40b1-9d47-ac1dcb599897
