EVALUATING THE EFFICIENCY OF HUMIC ACID TO REMOVE STAIN FORM ARTIFICIAL TEETH

Objective: To assess the color stability of artificial teeth after immersion in different staining solutions and to determine the effect humic acid on removing stain from teeth. Background: Old denture wearer needs effective, easy-use and safe denture-cleaning material. Material and Methods: Sixty maxillary incisors were divided into the three groups according to staining solution as tea (T), cherry juice (CJ) and cola (C). Baseline color measurements were performed with a spectrophotometer. Specimens were immersedin a staining solutions for 14 h (2 h _ 7 days) and then second color measurements were performed. Each group was further divided into four sub-groups according to denture cleanser as Corsodyl (Cr), Corega tablet (Ct), humic acid (H) and distilled water (W) (n = 5). Specimens were immersed in denture cleansers for 8h and third color measurements were made. Thus, the weekly simulation period was completed. This cycle was repeated 12 times to simulate a 3-month time period and measurements were performed. Color differences were calculated and data were analyzed with 2-way repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: The highest color difference after staining was noted in T. After the 12-times repeated immersion beverage and cleanser cycle, discoloration of teeth stained in beverages and cleaned with different solutionswas demonstrated. H and W were more effective than others for the teeth stained in T and Cj. However there was no difference among the cleaning solutions for teeth stained in C. Conclusions: Humic acid could be used as an alternative “natural” solution for denture- cleaning agent.