IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF DENTURE ADHESIVES - POSSIBLE EFFICACY OF COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES

The ideal denture adhesive demonstrates a neutral or slightly basic pH , minimal toxicity to the oral mucosa, and satisfactory adhesive bond strength for 12 to 16 hours. Three brands of commercially available de nture adhesives (Fixodent Fresh, Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati, OH; S uper Poli Grip, Block Drug, Jersey City, NJ; and Super Wernet's, Block Drug, Jersey City, NJ), and a complex mannose carbohydrate (Acemannan , Carrington Laboratories, Irving, TX) were evaluated in vitro to dete rmine significant differences in pH, cytotoxicity, and adhesive bond s trength. Super Poll Grip and Super Wernet's remained above the critica l pH for hydroxyapatite (pH 6.5) throughout the study, while Acemannan and Fixodent Fresh did not. Fixodent Fresh exhibited significant cyto toxicity to human gingival fibroblasts. Acemannan demonstrated signifi cantly greater overall mean adhesive bond strength in both dry and sim ulated oral conditions. The generally favorable in vitro performance o f the Acemannan material compared to commercially available denture ad hesive formulations indicates that complex carbohydrates may be effica cious denture adhesives.