An international multicenter study on the effectiveness of a denture adhesive in maxillary dentures using disposable gnathometers.

No consensus has been achieved on whether denture adhesives are beneficial adjuncts in denture-wearers management. The purpose of this international multicenter study was to determine objectively the effect of a denture adhesive (Kukident) on the retention of complete maxillary dentures using disposable gnathometers. The disposable gnathometers have a decimal scale for measuring the incisal force before dislodgement (= maximum incisal force) of maxillary dentures. The intra-observer reliability, the inter-observer reliability, and the linearity of the gnathometer units of the disposable gnathometers were examined in three pilot studies. Participants of the international multicentre main study were 88 patients who had been selected for complete maxillary denture treatment. The maximum incisal force of their previous and new denture without and with adhesive was measured using disposable gnathometers. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of the disposable gnathometers was very good, and there was a linear relation between the gnathometer units. The effect of the denture adhesive on the maximum incisal force of complete maxillary dentures was statistically significant in previous as well as new dentures, being more pronounced in previous than in new dentures.