Effect of Microwave Irradiation on Dimensional Stability of Dentures

Maintenance for complete dentures is a role that must be undertaken by the patient. It has been determined that two minutes of microwave irradiation at 650 Watts provides denture disinfection, and three minutes provide sterilization. There is insufficient data on how this practice affects the long term dimensional stability of commonly used complete denture bases in the United States. Contamination of removable prostheses with microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi or viruses) turns them into sources of infection risk that may affect denture wearers and dental professionals. It is imperative that such prostheses be disinfected, at the dental surgery or laboratory, to reduce risks of cross-contamination and to comply with infection control guidelines. Several methods of disinfection have been suggested, mainly including immersion of dentures in chemical solutions of sodium hypochlorite, alkaline glutaraldehyde, 4% chlorhexidine, chlorine dioxide, and denture cleansers such as alkaline peroxides, herbal and photodynamic therapy..