EFFICACY OF ANTI-PLAQUE AGENT IN BIOFILM REDUCTION ON REMOVABLE COMPLETE DENTURES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRAIL

Background: Complete removable dentures are susceptible to biofilm accumulation, which may lead to oral complications such as denture stomatitis, poor oral hygiene, unpleasant odor, and discomfort among edentulous individuals. Maintaining proper denture hygiene is essential to minimize these complications. Chemical denture cleansers, including 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash and Clinsodent denture cleansing tablets, are commonly used to control plaque and maintain denture cleanliness. Aim: To evaluate and compare the plaque-reducing effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash and Clinsodent denture cleansing tablets in complete denture wearers. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 20 participants with new removable complete dentures. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (N=10 each). Group 1 disinfected dentures by overnight soaking in a 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash solution, while Group 2 soaked dentures overnight in a Clinsodent solution containing 480 mg sodium perborate monohydrate. All participants cleaned dentures daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush and water for 20 days. Biofilm evaluation was performed using AlphaPlac plaque-disclosing solution, and denture photographs were visually assessed to estimate plaque-covered surface area. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0 with an unpaired t-test. Results: Both cleaning methods reduced biofilm accumulation. Mean biofilm scores were 1.13 ± 1.00 for Clinsodent and 0.95 ± 0.67 for chlorhexidine, showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Chlorhexidine mouthwash was slightly more effective than Clinsodent, though both products effectively reduced denture biofilm levels.