EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF THREE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DENTURE CLEANSING AGENTS: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Aim: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of three commercially available denture cleansing agents against selected oral microorganisms. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four heat-cured acrylic resin samples were prepared and divided into four groups: control (distilled water), Polident, Fittydent, and Clinsodent. The samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, followed by incubation at 37°C for 24 hours. After treatment with respective denture cleansers, microbial reduction was assessed using colony-forming unit (CFU) analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: All denture cleansers demonstrated a reduction in microbial count compared to the control group. Polident showed the highest antimicrobial efficacy, followed by Fittydent and Clinsodent. Candida albicans exhibited greater susceptibility compared to bacterial species. Conclusion: Commercial denture cleansers are effective in reducing microbial load on acrylic resin surfaces and can be recommended as an adjunct to mechanical cleaning methods.