CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS OF NONCOPING OVERDENTURE ABUTMENTS PROTECTED BYTANNIN-FLUORIDE PREPARATION

Statement of problem. The exposed dentin of overdenture abutments can lead to caries. Therefore chemical protection is needed to prevent car ies. Considering that dentin contains both organic and inorganic compo nents, reinforcement of both components should give reasonable results . Tannin-fluoride preparation strengthens both the organic and inorgan ic components of teeth. Purpose. This study examined whether the tanni n-fluoride preparation protects noncoping abutments. Material and meth ods. Thirty-one subjects aged 36 to 86 years participated in the clini cal trial. A trial autopolymerizing resin containing the preparation o r a conventional autopolymerizing resin was applied to the inner surfa ce of the denture base, which was in contact with the abutments. When there were autopolymerizing resin group abutments, there was also at l east one preparation group abutment under the overdenture. Results. Th e incidence of caries in the preparation and autopolymerizing resin gr oups were 0% and 0%, respectively, for the first 2 years, 4.5% and 0%, respectively, during the 3- to 4-year period, 13.8% and 75%, respecti vely, during the 5- to 8-year period, and 10% and 15%, respectively, i n total. Gingival crevicular fluid demonstrated a tendency to decrease in both groups over time. Conclusion. The trial autopolymerizing resi n containing the preparation has a long-term caries prevention effect, and helps to maintain gingival health. Without adding clinical steps, abutments can be protected by the tannin-fluoride preparation.