Knowledge and awareness of denture cleansers among dentists: a cross-sectional study

Year 2026, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 291 - 296, 10.03.2026

Gül Ateş

https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1844010

https://izlik.org/JA66JZ66BW

Abstract

Aims: Denture cleaners are commonly used to maintain denture hygiene; however, limited data are available on dentists’ knowledge, awareness, and clinical practices regarding their use. This study aimed to assess dentists’ current levels of knowledge, awareness, and clinical approaches toward denture cleaners.
Methods: A total of 276 dentists participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a 19-item online questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies and percentages. A one-sample chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to descriptively assess whether observed response distributions deviated from an equal expected distribution, with the aim of identifying response concentration patterns rather than inferring causality.
Results: A total of 63.0% of participants were aged 36 years or older, and 47.8% had more than 11 years of professional experience in dentistry. Although 68.6% of dentists reported having basic knowledge of denture cleaners, more than half (54.0%) reported a need to improve their knowledge. For several questionnaire items related to clinical practices and recommendations, observed response distributions showed statistically significant deviations from an equal expected distribution (p<0.05), reflecting a concentration of responses in specific categories.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that dentists’ knowledge of denture cleaners may be insufficient to provide patients with optimal guidance. These results highlight the need to strengthen denture hygiene education in undergraduate dental curricula and to support dentists through continuing postgraduate education programs.

Keywords

Denture cleaners , denture hygiene , denture care , dentists , clinical attitudes

Ethical Statement

Ethics approval The study was carried out with the permission of the Çankırı Karatekin University Ethics Committee (Date: 10/11/2023; Decision No: 10)

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