New resin could prevent common oral infections for denture wearers

Some people who wear dentures are affected by candidiasis, a yeast infection that makes eating and drinking difficult, and can also have an adverse effect on the eyes, brain, blood, heart, and bones. Now researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University have developed a slow release acrylic resin for dentures that actively fights bacteria and fungi in the mouth consistently for 45 days, without discoloration, helping to prevent oral infections from occurring.
Dr Lubomira Tosheva, materials chemist at the School of Science and the Environment, and lead author of the research, said: ‘Oral infections commonly affect people who wear dentures, and can lead to serious healthcare problems, so it is crucial that dentures have the capability to tackle potential diseases at their root before they occur. Our interdisciplinary team has successfully developed a new antimicrobial acrylic resin, made with zeolite and silver, which enables dentures to consistently kill oral bacteria and fungus, meaning that denture wearers can now maintain a healthy mouth without too much effort.”
Dr Sladjana Malic, a microbiologist from Manchester Metropolitan’s School of Healthcare Science, said: “We tested the dental resin for antimicrobial activity and for toxicity, ensuring that the materials have the capability to actively kill bacteria and fungi with no harm to humans. The results showed that the antimicrobial dental resin is effective for forty-five days, and can be potentially recharged after this time with the addition of more silver. This new dental resin has exciting applications for the prevention of oral diseases such as candidiasis.”