An investigation into the effect of denture adhesives on incisal bite force of complete denture wearers using pressure transducers - a clinical study

PURPOSE: Study was conducted to determine and assess the effect of different type of denture adhesives on the incisal bite force of complete denture wearers until the dislodgement of upper denture, using pressure transducer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients out of 100 were included in the study. Based on the Kapur's method of scoring denture retention and stability, these patients were divided into 3 groups- Group A - Clinically good dentures; Group B - Clinically fair dentures; and Group C - Clinically poor dentures. A custom made occlusal force meter was constructed based on the load cell type of pressure transducers. Different adhesives (powder, paste and adhesive strips) were used in the study. Complete denture wearers were asked to bite on the load cell and the readings of incisal bite force were recorded. The readings of incisal bite force were subjected to statistical analysis using Repeated measures ANOVA followed by post-hoc bonferroni test. RESULTS: The result suggests that denture adhesives improved the incisal bite force of complete denture wearers significantly The incisal bite force (in kg) in Group A without using adhesives, with powder adhesive, with paste adhesive and with adhesive strips was found to be 2.48 (± 0.16), 3.43 (± 0.11), 6.01 (± 0.11), 3.22 (± 0.09) respectively. The incisal bite force (in kg) in Group B without using adhesives, with powder adhesive, with paste adhesive and with adhesive strips was found to be 1.87 (± 0.18), 3.35 (± 0.14), 5.34 (± 0.18), 3.21 (± 0.12) respectively. The incisal bite force (in kg) in Group C without using adhesives, with powder adhesive, with paste adhesive and with adhesive strips was found to be 1.00 (± 0.17), 3.07 (± 0.14), 4.37 (± 0.26), 2.99 (± 0.14) respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that the use of denture adhesive was found to be significantly effective in improving the incisal bite force of complete dentures until the dislodgement of upper denture. Fittydent paste adhesive was found to be more effective than the powder and strips adhesives. The improvement in incisal bite force was found to be higher in Group C in comparison to that of Group A and Group B.