Glidewell recently announced that its ISO-certified manufacturing division, Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc., has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to promote the bactericidal and fungicidal properties of Glidewell 3DP Denture Base Resin.
Under in vitro testing conditions, dentures made from this proprietary 3D printing resin have shown greater than 99.9% reduction in the most common bacteria and fungi known to cause biofilm and contamination on the denture surface, providing specific, long-term antimicrobial effectiveness.
Less bacteria and fungi on the surface of the printed denture can result in a “cleaner” denture, with fewer microorganisms colonizing. This can lead to longer denture life and a more pleasant overall experience for the patient.
“We produce thousands of dentures annually and see firsthand the negative effects of bacteria and fungi on denture surfaces,” said Raj Malyala, vice president of materials research and development at Glidewell. “We challenged our scientists and development teams to identify and implement a solution that would eliminate the most commonly found oral bacteria and fungi.”
The formulation for Glidewell 3DP Denture Base Resin contains sodium zirconium phosphate as an antimicrobial agent. Led by Maggie Liu, PhD, a team of researchers conducted extensive non-clinical in vitro testing to evaluate the activity of the incorporated antimicrobial agent according to ASTM E2180-07 and ASTM E2647-13 test methods. The company plans to conduct clinical studies to determine whether the presence of silver sodium zirconium phosphate results in improved results.
Microorganisms tested in vitro are included Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalisand common superbugs like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus), which are known to cause serious infections in hospitals and intensive care units, particularly in the elderly.
These bacteria and fungi have been shown to lead to diseases such as denture stomatitis and build up as nettle biofilms on the surface of an imprinted denture.1
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, approximately 36 million adults in the United States suffer from periodontitis, and 120 million are missing at least one tooth.2 About 90% of this population uses dentures to replace teeth and restore function.3
Glidewell addresses this need with a full range of traditional and 3D printed dentures that clinicians can prescribe.
To learn more about Glidewell 3DP Denture Base Resin or additional denture services like Simply Natural Digital Dentures, visit glidewell.com.
REFERRALS
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Gendreau, Linda and Zvi G. Loewy. “Epidemiology and etiology of denture stomatitis”. Journal of Prosthodontics: Implant, Esthetic and Reconstructive Dentistry 20.4 (2011): 251-260. Epidemiology and Etiology of Denture Stomatitis – Gendreau – 2011 – Journal of Prosthodontics – Wiley Online Library.
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“Facts and Numbers”. American College of Prosthodontics, Oct. 2024.
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Ibid.
