An in-vivo study to evaluate and compare the effect of three different zinc free denture adhesives on retention of mandibular complete dentures after different adaptation periods

Abstract

Retention in mandibular dentures has always been a challenge for the Prosthodontist and this situation worsens in patients with resorbed ridges. Denture adhesives are known to improve the adhesive bond between the denture and the underlying tissues. But still biocompatibility issues have been noticed from zinc containing denture adhesives in various studies and they recommended using zinc free denture adhesives. However, zinc free denture adhesives still remain unexplored and not much is known about the efficacy of these materials in mandibular dentures especially in patients with poor foundations. The present study was carried out to compare the efficacy of three different commercially available zinc free denture adhesives in relation to their retentive ability in patients with well formed mandibular ridges and in patients with resorbed mandibular ridges. Thirty edentulous patients were selected and the patients were divided into 2 groups; group A comprised of 15 patients with well formed mandibular ridges and group B consisted of 15 patients having resorbed mandibular ridges. The adhesion and cohesion that developed between the dentures and the underlying tissues with and without denture adhesives was evaluated with the help of a force gauge test apparatus in newtons at three different times of adaptation period. Zinc free denture adhesives significantly improved the retention of mandibular complete dentures not only in case of well-formed residual ridges but also resorbed ridges. Use of zinc free denture adhesive led to a higher value of retention as opposed to when the dentures were used without adhesives at all time intervals of adaptation period. Poligrip adhesive was the most effective among all three adhesives used in the study, while Secure was intermediate and Fixon Supergrip was least effective.