Evidence-Based Guidelines for Patients Rehabilitated with Removable Dentures: An Oral Hygiene Guide

Abstract

Oral rehabilitation with dental prostheses represents an essential solution for reestablishing masticatory function, aesthetics, and quality of life for partially and/or totally edentulous patients. However, the long-term success of this treatment depends not only on the technical quality of the prosthesis but also, crucially, on the post-installation care provided by the patient. This study aimed to conduct a literature review on post-prosthetic care for patients rehabilitated with removable partial and total dentures, with an emphasis on hygiene techniques and products and their effects, aiming to develop an oral hygiene instruction guide for patients. The methodology consisted of a literature review, with 19 selected articles, as they addressed aspects related to the hygiene of removable partial and total dental prostheses. The evaluated aspects were the importance of hygiene, mechanical, chemical, and combined cleaning methods, recommended patient guidance protocols, and commercial products. The results showed that the prosthetic biofilm harbors potentially pathogenic microorganisms, associated with conditions such as denture stomatitis, oral candidiasis, and, in some cases, aspiration pneumonia in the elderly. The combination of mechanical and chemical methods proved to be the best alternative for removing the prosthetic biofilm. It is concluded that proper prosthesis hygiene is fundamental for the oral and systemic health of patients and that the guidance of the dental surgeon is of fundamental relevance for the selection and correct application of hygiene methods, in order to ensure the oral health and well-being of rehabilitated patients.

Keywords: Removable dental prosthesis. Hygiene. Biofilm. Oral health. Oral rehabilitation.