Higiene de próteses removíveis

The removable prosthesis is with some frequency (because of economics, aesthetics or functional reasons) the only solution to rehabilitate the edentulous arches. The placement of a prostheses provokes a qualitative and a quantitative alteration of the microbial plaque, increasing its predisposition of their users to the development of pathologies (dental decay, periodontal diseases and inflammatory processes of the mucosa). Consequently, the oral hygiene and the hygiene of the prosthesis are essential to maintain the health of the tissues. In spite of the existence of several methods reported about hygiene of the removable prosthesis, the brushing is the most common one. However, some authors consider essential the introduction of soaking chemical solution as a complement of the mechanical process. According to what has been reported, the objectives of this study were: - to evaluate the quantity of microbial plaque presented on the surface of the removable prostheses hygiened by a mechanical process (brushing with water) and by a mechanical/chemical process (brushing with water associated to a soaking chemical solution); - to compare the effectiveness in the removal of the microbial plaque of the two referred methods. Our sample was constituted by 44 individuals (adults of both sexes) making new prosthesis in the consultation of Removable Prosthesis of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Porto University. The analysis of the results allows us to conclude for the studied population, that: 1 - approximately half of the prostheses evaluated presents a deficient hygiene degree after brushing (50,9%) as well as after association of a soaking chemical solution (42,1%); 2 - The difference of effectiveness of the methods analyzed in the removal of the microbial plaque from the prosthetic surface is not statistically significant.