Effects of denture adhesives on denture retention and occlusal forces in complete denture wearers: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the effects of denture adhesives on denture retention and occlusal force in complete denture wearers in a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group controlled trial. METHODS Two hundred edentulous patients wearing complete dentures were allocated to three groups: powder-type denture adhesive, cream-type denture adhesive, and control (saline solution). Denture adhesives and saline solution were applied to the dentures for 4 days. The retentive force of the dentures and occlusal force were measured using a force transducer occlusal force meter at baseline and after 4 days of intervention. In addition to between-group comparisons, subgroup analyses of denture retention and occlusal force were performed based on the level of difficulty of the edentulism treatment. The levels were ranked as I (easy), II, III, and IV (difficult). RESULTS Cream-type denture adhesives significantly improved the retentive force of the dentures (P<0.01) and occlusal force (P<0.05), with no significant differences between baseline and post-intervention forces in the powder-type denture adhesive and control groups. In within-group comparisons, cream-type denture adhesives improved both the retentive and occlusal forces at Level II (P<0.05), and powder-type denture adhesives improved the occlusal force at Level II (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Application of cream-type denture adhesives effectively improves the denture retention and occlusal force in complete denture wearers with a moderate degree of difficulty during edentulism treatment.