Beverly Hills Periodontist Comments On New Study That Examines New Ways To Disinfect Dentures

Researchers Have Found That The Microwave Is An Effective Way To Decontaminate Dentures In Both The Short And Long Term

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (I-Newswire) July 24, 2012 - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in four Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have no teeth and about 20 million individuals in the United States wear partial or full dentures. Dentures are an essential tool for people with tooth loss to continue with their regular behaviors and to improve their appearance, but they can also be a dangerous carrier of harmful bacteria. Dentures can often be infected with hard to kill Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, which can lead to more severe infections like aspiration pneumonia. Because dentures and other appliances in the mouth are susceptible to bacteria and pathogens, a recent study examined new ways to better disinfect dentures. Notably, scientists discovered that irradiating dentures in a microwave is as effective as common liquid solutions in destroying MRSA bacteria. Top Beverly Hills Periodontist Dr. Alex Farnoosh comments, “When a patient seeks dentures after the loss of their teeth, my goal is to give them a smile they can be proud of. In addition to their satisfaction, making sure they are educated in how to keep their dentures clean and free of bacteria is of the upmost importance. Studies like this that find new and effective ways to keep dentures free of MRSA are great tools for dental professionals like myself to keep our patients healthy.”

Published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (March, 1. 2012), a team of scientists from Brazil, led by Karen Tereza Altieri, DDS, MSc from Araraquara Dental School at Universidade Estadual Paulista in Sao Paolo, contaminated 36 simulated dentures with MRSA to test the strength of two disinfectant solutions and microwave irradiation. The team then separated the dentures into a MRSA control group, a group left in a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes, a group left in 2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution for 10 minutes and a final group that was placed in a microwave for 3 minutes. Researchers concluded that both the chlorhexidine gluconate solution and the microwave irradiation completely disinfected the dentures of MRSA and were effective as short and long term methods to keep them free of the bacteria for up to one week. The sodium hypochlorite solution was found to only be effective on a short term basis.

Currently, patients are instructed to brush dentures regularly in addition to soaking them overnight in a disinfecting solution to maintain the integrity of their appliance. This study sets the foundation for more effective ways of keeping dentures free of bacterial contamination. “Giving patients a solution free option for keeping their dentures clean can only help to keep them more vigilant in their daily denture routines.” Dr. Alex Farnoosh continues, “The loss of teeth can be quite traumatizing, on both physical and psychological levels. I strive to give patients the best solutions possible from dental implants to complete denture treatment so that they can still feel confident in their smile. It is more than having a dazzling smile, it is about keeping that smile healthy.”