Evaluation of Procedures Employed for the Maintenance of Removable Dentures in Elderly Individuals

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the behaviour of the wearers of removable dentures in relation to cleaning and maintaining the prosthesis. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and thirty-one people were interviewed, most of whom were females, over 60 years of age and participants in the Center for Integrated Study and Support to the Elderly. Results: After analysing the responses, it was verified that most people brush their dentures three times a day using dentifrice and only go to the clinician when they have a complaint. They do not receive follow-up appointments for checkups, do not use immersion cleaners for their dentures and do not remove their dentures during the night. Conclusions: It was concluded that the study sample did not receive proper orientation for the conservation of removable dentures, which may consequently reduce the useful life of dentures and cause social and functional problems. Keywords: cleanness, maintenance, removable dentures