Comparative Clinical and Microbiological Evaluation of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on PMMA versus Polyamide Dentures: Randomized parallel-group clinical trial
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22317/jcms.v12i2.2141Keywords:
Chlorhexidine, Denture, Complete; Denture Cleansers, Dental Plaque, Denture Base Resins, Polyamides, ProsthodonticsAbstract
Objectives: To evaluate the clinical, microbiological, and material effects of 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyamide removable dentures in edentulous patients.
Methods: A randomized, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted on 40 edentulous patients aged 50–75 years, allocated into PMMA (n = 20) and polyamide (n = 20) denture groups. Participants were instructed to use 0.12% CHX mouthwash twice daily for 14 days. Clinical parameters, including Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI), microbiological outcomes including Candida albicans and total bacterial counts, material properties including surface roughness and Vickers hardness, and patient-reported outcomes were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: Both groups demonstrated significant reductions in PI and GI following CHX use (p < 0.001), with greater reductions observed in the PMMA group compared with the polyamide group. Microbial load reduction was higher in PMMA dentures. Surface analysis revealed minimal changes in PMMA dentures, whereas polyamide dentures exhibited increased surface roughness and reduced hardness. Polyamide dentures were associated with higher patient-reported comfort but more frequent adverse effects.
Conclusions: CHX use may improve gingival health and reduce microbial colonization in denture wearers. However, material-dependent differences suggest that PMMA dentures may exhibit greater resistance to biofilm formation and material degradation, whereas polyamide dentures may provide improved comfort with increased susceptibility to surface alterations. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size and short follow-up period.
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