20 JUNE 2019

The Oral Health Foundation has today published a new set of global science-based guidelines for denture adhesives.

The new recommendations have been launched to combat the current lack of guidance that exists for full denture wearers about the correct use of denture adhesives.

The research project reinforces the role denture adhesives (and fixatives) play in having ‘best-fitting’ dentures.  Such benefits include better retention and stability, improved confidence and comfort and reduction or elimination of food debris beneath the denture.

The White Paper entitled ‘Guidelines for the Use of Denture Adhesives and their benefits for Oral and General Health’, has been developed by a global task force of academic experts.

Having undertaken a comprehensive review of existing guidance for best use of denture adhesives, the panel found only limited recommendations and guidance in existence.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation says: “The current lack of guidance on the use of denture adhesives may mean that denture wearers are left confused.

“The evidence is clear; using an adhesive can provide benefits for patients with best-fitting dentures both in terms of function, confidence and comfort.

“These new guidelines will give dental professionals the confidence to know how and when to recommend denture adhesives for maximum patient benefit.”

The task force included experts from the Oral Health Foundation and King’s College London. There were also representatives from the USA, Greece, Japan and Switzerland.

The group formed to reflect the global need for advice for denture wearers given the ageing population around the world.  By 2050, there is expected to be 2 billion people aged 60 years or older in the world – this represents 16% of the population and is triple the figure for this age group in 2010.¹

The new guidelines are now available here: The full guidelines can be downloaded here: White paper on guidelines for the use of denture adhesives and their benefits for oral and general health

The simple steps for application of a denture adhesive can be summarised as follows:

1. Make sure your denture is clean and dry. Put a small amount of denture adhesive cream onto it. (You should only need to do this once a day)
   
   
2. Put the denture into your mouth and firmly close the mouth for a couple of seconds. If the adhesive cream overflows you have used too much. Remove any spare adhesive, don’t swallow it. Don’t eat or drink anything for 5 minutes.
   
   
3. Before you sleep, take your denture out. Clean the denture and the inside of your mouth thoroughly to remove any adhesive.
   
   
4. Ask your dentist for a regular appointment so they can check your mouth and dentures.

The guidelines have been sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and were announced as part of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) 2019 meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

The new denture adhesive guidelines follow on from further advice about how to clean dentures launched in August 2018. Together, these form a comprehensive resource on full dentures for dental professionals, carers and denture wearers.

• Guidelines for the use of denture adhesives and their benefits for oral and general health

• Optimal Care and Maintenance of Full Dentures for Oral and General Health

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Notes

1. Global Health and Ageing. World Health Organisation. Available online at https://www.who.int/ageing/publications/global_health.pdf?ua=1

Sponsorship for the development of the new guidelines was provided by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare to the Oral Health Foundation. No editorial control, apart from ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory considerations/requirements, has been exercised by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.