– It was the purpose of the study to test the efficiency of dextranase., mutanase, and protease in removing denture plaque. The study group comprised 100 denture‐wearers with denture stomatitis. The enzymes were dispensed as dissolvent tablets either in pure or in mixed preparations. Placebo tablets and Steradent®. a commercial denture cleanser, were used as control tablets. The following parameters were studied: the amount of denture plaque., the degree of palatal erythema, and the concentration of yeast cells and inflammatory cells in mucosal and denture smears. The study was designed and carried out as a double‐blind study. The dissolvent tablets containing the enzymes in mixed preparations were more effective than the tablets containing the pure enzymes, the placebo tablets, or the Steradent® tablets. The beneficial effect of the mixed enzyme preparations included a significant reduction of the amount of denture plaque and an improvement of the clinical condition of the palatal mucosa.

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The efficacy of a protease preparation (Alcalase, Novo, Denmark) in preventing accumulation of plaque on the fitting surface of complete upper dentures was examined in a double-blind study. Seventeen denture wearers with clinically healthy oral mucosae participated in the study. The protease was dispensed in dissolvent tablets containing 15, 30, 60, 100, 300, 500, or 1000 mg of the enzyme. Enzyme tablets or placebo tablets were dissolved in 150 ml water at 50 degrees C, and the dentures were soaked once daily for 15 min. Denture soaking was performed with or without brushing. The study consisted of 14 1-week periods. At the start of each period the dentures were cleaned by brushing until they showed no visible plaque after staining. At the end of each period plaque was stained and the dentures were photographed. The photographs were projected, and the percentage area of the fitting surface showing plaque deposits was scored with 10% intervals. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant reduction of plaque scores with increasing enzyme concentration. The most marked reduction in plaque formation was seen when mechanical cleansing was combined with immersion in a 500-mg enzyme solution. At a concentration of 300 mg (or more) the enzyme immersion was as efficient as mechanical cleansing in preventing denture plaque accumulation.

The effect of a Trichoderma harzianum enzyme preparation containing mutanase (a-1,3 glucan glucanohydrolase) on plaque accumulation and composition and on occurrence of gingivitis was assessed in 20 persons in a double-blind cross-over investigation. The enzyme preparation was administered in chewing gum. Two test periods ol 1 week were preceded by scaling and cleansing of the teeth, oral hygiene instruction, and controlled hygiene for at least 3 weeks. Oral hygiene measures were discontinued during the test periods, while the persons chewed six pieces of chewing gum per day, one half using enzyme-containing gum, and the other half using placebo gum. The test periods were identical, only enzyme gum was used instead of placebo, or vice versa. Evaluations ol plaque and gingivitis showed that less plaque had accumulated and less gingivitis developed during the enzyme than during the placebo period, but bacteriologic studies of interproximal plaque did not reveal differences that could explain the clinical findings. Treatment with the enzyme preparation caused some local side effects, but no primary skin irritation, delayed hypersensitivity, nor anti-enzyme IgE was detected in any of tfie persons.