Denture Adhesive Reduced Food Entrapment Under Removable Partial Dentures

Objectives: Bothersome food entrapment is a common occurrence among users of removable partial dentures (RPDs). We evaluated whether denture adhesives can reduce food entrapment, and improve subjective measures of comfort, confidence, stability and satisfaction by wearers of mandibular and maxillary RPDs. Methods: Following screening to confirm food entrapment, 34 male and female subjects having either a single well-fitting mandibular RPD, or both mandibular and maxillary RPDs, were randomized to a 3-way crossover comparing Super Poligrip® Free (PGF) denture adhesive and an unmarketed adhesive cream formulation (UMC) to a control condition of no adhesive use on food entrapment beneath the respective partial. Food entrapment was measured quantitatively by collecting and weighing residue from under the denture base and opposing gum tissues following chewing and swallowing 32g of peanuts. Eating-related denture comfort, confidence, stability and satisfaction were assessed using 7-point graded scales. Pair-wise Dunnett adjustment of multiple comparisons was performed at 5% level to compare each adhesive to no adhesive. There was no statistical comparison between UMC and PGF. Results: UMC and PGF had an equivalent effect, both reducing food entrapment beneath mandibular RPDs by 57% (p < 0.05). The 16 subjects who also had a maxillary RPD, UMC and PGF reduced food entrapment by 75% and 42% respectively. The two adhesives also significantly improved eating-associated denture comfort, confidence, and satisfaction, and reduced denture wobble during chewing (all comparisons p < 0.05) compared to no adhesive. No treatment-related adverse events were reported for either adhesive. Conclusions: Use of Poligrip® adhesive by persons with well-fitting mandibular RPDs significantly reduced food entrapment and improved subjective measures related to eating-associated denture comfort, confidence, satisfaction and stability. This study provides new learning which suggests that use of denture adhesives may be appropriate with RPDs to improve function and comfort during eating.