Denture Adhesive

Function

Denture adhesive is used to keep dentures in place during normal daily activity. It is applied to the fitting surface of dentures. In the mouth, with the presence of water from saliva, the material swells and creates an adhesion between the denture and the gum that improves the retention and stability on denture wearing.

Active ingredients

The main ingredients in denture adhesives are polymethyl vinyl ether-malevich anhydrade (PVM-MA) copolymer and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Some denture adhesive products contain zinc to provide greater strength of adhesion.

Is it suitable for you?

Usually a well made denture is retentive enough without the use of any adhesives. However, the dentist may recommend using it in some cases:

  • The ridge of the jaw is very flat, thin or irregular which cannot provide adequate support to the overlying denture.
  • Decrease in salivary secretion due to systemic diseases like diabetes or consumption of certain drugs. As saliva can act as a normal adhesive, any defect in the volume or the consistency of saliva will affect the denture stability.
  • People with neuromuscular adaptation problem like stroke patients.
  • New denture wearers who need some time to adapt to it, and they need more confidence at the beginning not to worry the denture from falling out.

Points to note for using denture adhesive

  1. Ask for dentist's advices before use. Any trial to use denture adhesives without knowing the cause of loose denture may result in more bone resorption, and make it harder to manufacture another good denture or even repair the old one.
  2. Choose a zinc-free denture adhesive, because chronic excessive intake of zinc can adversely affect general health.
  3. Refer to the notes of application before use, and remember to:
    • clean and dry the denture(s) before applying denture adhesive;
    • avoid using too much adhesive. Apply 2-3 dots in pea size on the fitting surface of each denture; and
      Photograph of a denture and a tube of denture adhesive.
      Photograph of an upper denture with a few dots of denture adhesive on its fitting surface of it.
      Photograph of a lower denture with a few dots of denture adhesive on its fitting surface.
    • take off and clean up the denture before bed every night. Wipe adhesive residue from both gums and dentures.
  4. Avoid very hot liquids which may dissolve the denture adhesive material.
  5. See dentist regularly for checking up your teeth and adjusting the denture.