This study evaluated, in vivo, the efficacy of a denture glazing material (Palaseal) in modifying plaque colonization of dentures. Ten subjects were selected and received maxillary temporary partial removable dentures, with complete acrylic palatal coverage. The right half of the fitting surface of the denture bases were glazed with Palaseal, whereas the other half was not glazed. One month after insertion, two fragments of the resin base of all dentures were removed (one from the glazed side and another from the non-glazed side). These samples were prepared and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Three months after insertion, other fragments were obtained and analyzed. Microscopic observation at 1 month revealed that, for all patients, the plaque film was thinner on the treated side in comparison to the non-treated side. However, at the 3-month evaluation, some areas of the glaze showed cracking, and both glazed and non-glazed sides were covered by a dense bacterial plaque film. In conclusion, the findings of this clinical experiment showed that glazing denture's fitting surface did not prevent bacterial colonization, but favored plaque removal while the glaze layer remained intact. After three months, glaze cracks created microretentive areas that increased plaque accumulation.
denture plaque; denture glaze; scanning electron microscopy
