Cochrane · intervention · CD007395

Interventions for cleaning dentures in adults

de Souza, RF, de Freitas Oliveira Paranhos, H, Lovato da Silva, CH, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2009 · Cochrane Library

Oral HealthImplants and prosthodontics2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
Full textEvery question was extracted from the full review (methods and results), not only its Summary of Findings table.
Questions
26
current version
GRADE rated
0
No studies
4
Included studies
6
as reported
No studies 4 · 15.4%Ungraded 22 · 84.6%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Review question

ElementPlanned (methods)Found (results)
PopulationWearers of complete dentures (CD) or removable partial dentures (RPD) or both (including tooth-supported or retained overdenture) over the age of 18; participants with a history of corticosteroid or antimicrobial treatment within the previous 3 months, and participants with implant-retained prostheses, were excludedSix studies included; settings and participant characteristics varied extensively (some institutionalised elderly, others former university-clinic patients); all included studies assessed complete denture (CD) wearers only, none assessed RPD wearers
InterventionAny mechanical method (e.g. brushing or ultrasound) or chemical method (e.g. enzymes, sodium hypochlorite, oral rinses or peroxide solutions); microwave disinfection and the combination of two or more methods also consideredEnzyme cleanser (n=2); Silicone surfactant cleanser (n=1); Brushing (n=4); Effervescent tablets (n=2); Other chemical cleansers (n=1); Association of brushing and effervescent tablets (n=1)
ComparisonThese interventions evaluated against each other, sham procedures, or no treatmentPlacebo/sham solution (n=2); No treatment (n=2); Distilled water (n=2); Another active method - brushing, effervescent tablets or association (n=3)
OutcomesPrimary: health of denture bearing areas (soft tissues/mucosa; periodontal tissues - bleeding on blunt probing, gingival attachment, tooth mobility; hard tissues/teeth - plaque scores, caries); participants' satisfaction and preference. Secondary: denture plaque coverage area; indicators of halitosis (volatile sulphur compounds); microbial counts on abutment teeth, soft tissues, denture base or saliva. Adverse effects; CostsDenture plaque/biofilm coverage score (n=4); Microbial counts - fusobacteria, total anaerobes, aerobes, yeasts, hyphae/bacteria (n=4); Improvement on denture cleanliness, caregivers' opinion (n=1)
Study designsRandomised controlled trials (RCTs)Randomised controlled trials (parallel-group, Latin-square and cross-over)
TimingNot reported48 hours to 12 weeks (follow-up varied across studies)

Search date: May 2009. Databases: Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); MEDLINE; EMBASE; LILACS; CINAHL

Questions and results

Current version only

Any denture cleansing method (mechanical or chemical) vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment

Population: Adults (over 18) wearing complete dentures (CD) or removable partial dentures (RPD)
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Adverse effects
Noticeable absence of reports about adverse effects; no included study assessed the extent of adverse effects (for example the aftertaste of sodium hypochlorite, or mechanical or chemical damage to denture materials)…0 studiesNo studies
Outcome NR
Although six RCTs were included in this review, the wide range of different interventions and outcome variables did not permit pooling of data in a meta-analysis. Isolated reports indicated that chemicals and brushing…6 studiesUngraded
Costs
Noticeable absence of reports about costs of materials associated with denture cleansing methods; no included study assessed costs (Discussion; Implications for research).0 studiesNo studies

Any denture cleansing method (mechanical or chemical) vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment

Population: Wearers of removable partial dentures (RPD), over the age of 18
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Outcome NR
No included study assessed removable partial denture (RPD) wearers; all six included trials assessed complete denture wearers (Discussion; Implications for research: 'No included study assessed removable partial…0 studiesNo studies

Ultrasonic treatment or microwave disinfection device vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment

Population: Adults (over 18) wearing complete dentures (CD) or removable partial dentures (RPD)
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Outcome NR
The effectiveness of ultrasonic or microwave devices as an intervention for routine use was not studied according to a randomised controlled trial design (Implications for research).0 studiesNo studies

Enzyme cleanser vs Placebo / sham solution

Population: Institutionalised elderly wearing maxillary complete dentures (CD)
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Improvement on denture cleanliness (caregivers' opinion)
12 weeks
After 12 weeks using an enzyme denture cleanser ('E'), 8 of 18 caregivers perceived some improvement in CD cleanliness. After using a placebo solution ('Plac'), only 2 of 17 perceived some improvement (Analysis 1.1,…1 study · 35 participantsUngraded
Microbial counts (hyphae and bacteria)
12 weeks
Lower hyphal and bacterial scores were also found for 'E' when compared with 'Plac' after 12 weeks. It was not possible to extract adequate data as the investigators did not provide standard deviations.1 studyUngraded
Denture plaque (biofilm) score
5 weeks; 3 months
Both interventions reduced biofilm scores after 2 weeks. However, plaque scores were significantly lower for 'E' after 5 weeks (P < 0.05) and 3 months (P < 0.01), as assessed by Chi2 test. It was not possible to…1 studyUngraded

Enzyme cleanser vs Brushing

Population: Wearers of maxillary and mandibular complete dentures (CD)
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Denture plaque coverage score
Standard deviations were not reported for the relevant data so these were not included in the analysis. Reduction of plaque scores was associated with enzyme concentration (ANOVA, P < 0.001). Brushing alone and…1 studyUngraded

Silicone surfactant cleanser vs Placebo / sham solution

Population: Complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Visual plaque score
14 days
MD -0.88 [-1.00, -0.76]1 studyUngraded
Visual plaque score
2 days
MD -1.02 [-1.13, -0.91]1 studyUngraded

Brushing vs No treatment

Population: Maxillary complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Total anaerobes (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD -1.06 [-1.39, -0.73]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Fusobacteria (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD -0.89 [-1.55, -0.23]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Microbial counts (total aerobes, anaerobes, yeasts)
Population: Complete denture (CD) wearers in a nursing home
Moore 1984 found that the seven tested methods were similar and resulted in a significant reduction in total aerobes and anaerobes compared with immersion in distilled water (paired t test, P < 0.05). Some chemical…1 study · 12 participantsUngraded

Effervescent tablets vs No treatment

Population: Maxillary complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Fusobacteria (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD -3.71 [-4.16, -3.26]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Microbial counts (total aerobes, anaerobes, yeasts)
Population: Complete denture (CD) wearers in a nursing home
Moore 1984: soaking methods resulted in significant reduction of total aerobes and anaerobes versus distilled water (paired t test, P < 0.05); three soaking methods (Clorox and Calgon, Polident, Effedent) were less…1 study · 12 participantsUngraded
Total anaerobes (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD -5.5 [-6.55, -4.45]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded

Brushing vs Effervescent tablets

Population: Maxillary complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Total anaerobes (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD 4.44 [3.36, 5.52]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Visual plaque score
12 weeks
Population: American complete denture (CD) wearers
Tarbet 1984 compared brushing with two types of effervescent tablets. No standard deviations were reported and therefore no data were entered for this outcome. Brushing was associated with significantly lower plaque…1 study · 75 participantsUngraded
Fusobacteria (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD 3.62 [2.98, 4.26]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded

Association of brushing and effervescent tablets vs No treatment

Population: Maxillary complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Fusobacteria (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD -3.75 [-4.16, -3.34]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Total anaerobes (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD -6.70 [-7.45, -5.95]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded

Brushing vs Association of brushing and effervescent tablets

Population: Maxillary complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Fusobacteria (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD 2.86 [2.25, 3.47]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Total anaerobes (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD 5.64 [4.86, 6.42]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded

Effervescent tablets vs Association of brushing and effervescent tablets

Population: Maxillary complete denture (CD) wearers
CD007395.PUB2 (current) · 2 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Total anaerobes (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD 1.20 [-0.08, 2.48]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded
Fusobacteria (colony forming units, log-transformed)
MD 0.04 [-0.33, 0.41]1 study · 18 participantsUngraded

Any denture cleansing method (mechanical or chemical) vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment

Population: Adults over 18 wearing complete dentures (CD) or removable partial dentures (RPD), including tooth-supported or retained overdentures
CD007395 · 3 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Adverse effects
Protocol-planned adverse-effects outcome (perceived damage to denture appearance, hypersensitivity or other adverse reactions such as residual bad taste, and mechanical or chemical damage to denture materials). No…NRNo studies
Outcome NR
Protocol-planned generic question: whether any mechanical method (e.g. brushing or ultrasound) or chemical method (e.g. enzymes, sodium hypochlorite, oral rinses or peroxide solutions), including microwave disinfection…NRNo studies
Costs
Protocol-planned costs outcome (direct costs of consumables, toothpastes, disposable items such as toothbrushes, and specific equipment such as ultrasonic cleansers). No studies included yet (protocol).NRNo studies

Any denture cleansing method (mechanical or chemical) vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment

Population: Wearers of removable partial dentures (RPD), over the age of 18
CD007395 · 1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Outcome NR
Protocol planned to include removable partial denture (RPD) wearers as an eligible population; no studies included yet (protocol).NRNo studies

Ultrasonic treatment or microwave disinfection device vs Another method, sham/placebo, or no treatment

Population: Adults (over 18) wearing complete dentures (CD) or removable partial dentures (RPD)
CD007395 · 1 question
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Outcome NR
Protocol planned ultrasonic treatment and microwave disinfection as eligible interventions; no studies included yet (protocol).NRNo studies