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Effectiveness of two methods of denture sterilization
Author(s) -
B. C. Webb,
Catherine Thomas,
D. W. S. Harty,
Mark Willcox
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of oral rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2842
pISSN - 0305-182X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2842.1998.00266.x
Subject(s) - sodium hypochlorite , streptococcus gordonii , sterilization (economics) , dentures , dentistry , candida albicans , microwave irradiation , distilled water , chemistry , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chromatography , biochemistry , streptococcaceae , catalysis , organic chemistry , monetary economics , foreign exchange , economics , foreign exchange market , antibiotics
Species of Candida and in particular Candida albicans may be involved in the aetiology of denture stomatitis. Studies have shown that Candida and other oral micro‐organisms including Streptococcus gordonii are associated with denture plaque; hence denture hygiene is an important factor in the prevention and treatment of the disease. The aim of this investigation was to test in vitro the efficacy of two methods of denture sterilization: (1) microwave irradiation and (2) sodium hypochlorite soak. Twenty upper acrylic dentures were prepared for microbiological assay; 10 were inoculated with C. albicans H1 and 10 with S. gordonii LGR2. Within each group, five dentures were tested in a domestic microwave oven for optimal exposure time and temperature to ensure sterilization; the five control dentures were not microwaved. Microbiological analyses showed that the inoculated dentures became sterile after six min of irradiation at medium setting (2450 MHz, 350 W). Damage to the micro‐organisms after microwave irradiation was clearly visible by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Following the same protocol as above, experimental dentures were soaked for 8 h in either 0·02%, or 0·0125% sodium hypochlorite solution and control dentures soaked in distilled water. Microbiological analyses showed that the experimental dentures inoculated with C. albicans H1 became sterile. By contrast, those inoculated with S. gordonii LGR2 did not become sterile, and the SEM procedures confirmed these findings. The results of this study indicate that microwaving may be a more effective method of denture sterilization than denture soaking in sodium hypochlorite. However, compared with microwaving, hypochlorite reduces the levels of residual non‐viable micro‐organisms attached to the denture surface.