Investigation into the cleanliness of dentures in an elderly population.

During a survey of 233 elderly people of whom 89.9% were edentulous, attitudes toward denture cleaning were investigated. Questioning revealed the frequency of cleaning and methods used. Examination showed which dentures were clean, types and amounts of stain present, and comparison of clean dentures directly with dirty ones. Comparison of different residential groups highlighted problems particular to a group, so that recommendations for improvements could be made. Only 40% of dentures were properly clean. Subjects resident in the long-stay hospitals had the cleanest dentures and those in the elderly persons' homes the dirtiest. One quarter of the dentures examined were over 30 years old. They tended to be dirtier than the newer ones and related to a higher incidence of denture stomatitis. Wearers of cleaner dentures were more satisfied with their cleansing methods and more likely to use a proprietary cleanser regularly than those with dirty dentures.