Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an enzyme-containing denture cleanser on in vivo plaque deposits.
The denture bacterial flora before and after denture cleansing of 20 dependent elderly were exam-ined for microorganisms by the culture method.
Although hardly any bacteria were detected after denture cleansing, Candida spp.cannot be re-moved by an enzyme-containing denture cleanser.
Microbiologically, Candida spp.in denture plaque are recognized to be the most important microor-ganisms of denture stomatitis etiologically. However, the results of this study showed that Candida spp.could not be removed by an enzyme-containing denture cleanser. High antifungal activity is considered a desirable property of a denture-cleansing agent for prevention of denture stomatitis. In light of the well-recognized relationship between denture cleanliness and the oral health of the denture patient, the importance of plaque removal from a denture cannot be overemphasized.
