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(®) (cast heat polymerised resin) specimens previously soaked in saliva were stained using multiple exposures of chlorhexidine and tea solutions. Specimens were exposed for 1 min to one of the eight denture cleansers for five cycles, washed and dried and their optical density read on a uv/vis spectrophotometer at 295 nm. 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(®) and Kleenite(®) 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(®) and Equate were particularly effective.

Conclusions:   All denture cleansers had a capacity to remove stain and most had an inhibitory effect on staining. Kleenite(®) was particularly effective in controlling stain formation.