Sadly for many of these patients, what may have actually set the whole thing off were dentures that did not fit properly. Denture cream users who used more than the daily dose of denture adhesive say they did so to try to hold their dentures in place. But doing so may have cost them their health.An Associated Press article, (September 19, 2009) relates the story of Ronald Beaver, a 61-year-old who used excess denture cream to hold his dentures in place. Beaver became ill and it was eventually discovered that he had copper deficiency caused by excess zinc. According to the article, zinc improves the adhesive quality of denture creams.
The companies that make denture cream adhesive—Procter & Gamble Co, which makes, Fixodent, and GlaxoSmithKline, which makes PoliGrip—say their denture cream is safe when used as directed. The problem occurs when people overuse the creams.
However, lawsuits filed against the companies say that the defendants did not adequately warn users about the potential dangers associated with denture creams. That lack of warning may have resulted in people thinking there would be no harm in using extra adhesive to hold their dentures in place.
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Nerve damage is a result of copper deficiency, and can result in problems such as extreme weakness, numbness and loss of balance. If the nerve damage continues for too long, it could become irreversible.
Currently, the makers of denture adhesive face at least 25 lawsuits that have been consolidated for pretrial hearings, which will determine if the cases will go to trial. However, some lawyers expect that more lawsuits will be filed as more people become aware of the issue.
READER COMMENTS
Don McGrady
on
After reading about the Zinc Poisoning problem associated with denture cremes, I told my mother not to wear her dentures at all. Just for the record she had been using Fixodent denture creme, and she used a lot as her dentures would not stay in place without more than normal amounts of creme. We have had a blood sample submitted to a hospital, and are awaiting results of the blood test.
I have also read about the possibility that the dentures could be made from toxic materials. And I am also wondering if the dentures could absorb and release dangerous amounts of zinc from the denture creme coming into contact with the dentures.
Going to see my mothers dentist tomorrow, hoping for some resolve from this year of hell she has been through. By the way she had a top plate denture from another dentist that she had worn for more than 20 years with no ill effects. I tried to get her to go back to the dentist she had seen before, but a friend had recommended this dentist. I wish she had gone back to the original dentist now.
I hope that the word will get out on the dangers and remedies to this problem. It is quite interesting that the companies that make denture creme have all come out with a zinc free product.
Thanks
Don