Denture Adhesives and Law Suits due to ZINC????
 

Okay, so totally new, on day 8, of upper dentures, BEFORE i had the extractions, I went to Walgreens and got Fixodent powder adhesive and Polygrip Creme adhesive and as I was doing some online research AFTER I got the dentures the most SCARY INFORMATION was provided through Google. It appears there is a HUGE law suit being logged against BOTH companies due to ZINC being in BOTH products! I was absolutley taken back :eek: that there are SO many litigates and some have used the products for years, some for months and they have all these AWFUL neuropothy issues (spelling?) WHY in the WORLD would these products be ALLOWED to be sold?
And WHY wouldn't our Dentists TELL us about it? I did approach my dentist and he had no answer, which is odd! BUT I think that people should be made aware of this, to do the research and make up their OWN minds on what they want to use, but STILL know about this?

Is there any research that the Dental community is doing regarding this? I would HATE to think that I use these products and then years later or months later, not be able to walk and having all these awful issues with numbness etc.....

So I'm not trying to PANIC anyone, but want to bring it up front so that others are made aware to DO THE RESEARCH before using ANY product!

Hope this helps anyone else as it helped me!

As my attorney husband says.... anyone can file a suit...it is WINNING that makes the difference.

PolyGrip makes a zinc free one. And SeaBond does not have zinc.

It takes ALOT of zinc to get toxic. I mean ALOT.

The people who bring the suit will have to PROVE by blood levels.
And the one guy who started it all ATE the stuff like candy because he liked it. Ate tubes a day.... some kind of pica behavior.

The first sign of toxicity is nausea/vomiting.

We have a long thread on this subject at PN:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...light=polygrip

I looked up alot of facts for it.

Many older people develop neuropathy, and don't wear dentures. It is sooooo common. Don't get bent out of shape YET about this.

The one study I found from Univ. Of Mich stated it was probably a genetic tendency for the few that have been identified so far...an overload problem, that cannot be anticipated. Like Iron overload (hemochromatosis). You are more likely to have hemochromatosis than any zinc overload. 1 in 3 have the genetic means from Ireland alone for it. (iron). Estimates in US are 1:150 or so.

Thank you!
 

Hi Mrs. D,
When I started reading, I was just soooo shocked...being new to all this, it is not only a total life change, but then reading something like that just totally freaked me...LOL....

thank you for the good advice and facts! :winky:

got the seabond wafers today and just put one in, amazing how that little wafer can make it fit like a pair of good fitting jeans...:wink:

So much to learn and so little time, going back to work Friday so gotta get back to feeling 'normal'.

thanks again!

Hi humarock,

The health issue concerning the zinc in the denture adhesives shoud be a concern for anyone who uses it in their dentures or partial dentures. For one thing, you don't have to eat the product to ingest the zinc. The mouth is one of the most vascular areas of the body and the zinc as well as the other ingredients are being absorbed through the oral tissue the entire time it is being worn. Because most people use the adhesive on a daily basis, the amount of zinc is building up in the brain and elsewhere with each application in the denture. Secondly, people are of the assumption that these products are harmless because they don't associate the term "oral adhesive" like they would "glue" or "cement". Thirdly, oral adhesives can be very difficult to remove from the palate and sometimes have to be scraped off. Often the amount left behind ends up ingested. Unfortunately, most dentists do not warn patients about overusing it and they don't properly instruct patients on how to use it.

The least amount that is effective should be used. It is important to experiment with it and understand that less is best. Also, remove as much as possible when you remove the denture. Don't leave any pieces anyplace in the mouth. And as you said, do the research and try the adhesives without the zinc.

With regard to the dental community doing research on this...... the conventional practices are mostly unaware of the problem and continue to recommend it to their patients without proper instruction. One reason for this is because these adhesives are endorsed by the big dental organizations irrelevant of the toxicity of them.......just like root canals, just like mercury fillings...... unfortunately.

It sounds like you had a rough start with your new dentures but are adapting to them pretty well! It will get easier as time goes on..... :-)

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,

Thank you for your input, it is most welcomed. I am adjusting but the gums seem to be shrinking quickly. I thought I was good to go back to work today, in a call center...well, my jaw was KILLING within the 1st hour.

I chose to use Seabond as I could cut the strips to my needs...THAT takes practise and I reapplied three times and finally told my boss I was done, so I'm back on leave, thank goodness my company is cool with it. I will call my dentist and have him look at all this now that I'm more 'aware' of what is going on with the dentures. Trial and error.

Do you have any suggestions on adhesives? Seabond is good but not really easy to put in quickly as you have to cut to fit. And I do have concern about 'glue' going into my body specially when I'm just getting the infection out of my body...LOL...

Thanks for any advice on new products that I may not have spotted or that you have heard works well.
Kelley

Hi Kelley,

I read your post about your experience at work....... oy..... new dentures and answering phones at a call center.... definitely a major challenge.

It does sound like your gums are shrinking quickly and that will cause your denture to become loose. I would suggest that you see your dentist for a soft reline which will take up the loose space in the denture. The more space there is the more adhesives you'll have to use. Once the healing is complete, either your dentist will recommend a hard reline or a new denture. It all depends on how the healing goes.

Have you tired a denture adhesive called Secure? It comes in a cream and adhesive strips.

I know you are struggling with this flopping denture and your line of work...... by any chance do you work by yourself or are you in a group of other people? The reason I ask is........ during the healing phase, sometimes you may have to take your denture out to talk on the phone for long periods of time. I know it's not easy to talk with out them, but they can't keep falling out either. I know....you are gasping for air right now... I'm sorry...!! :-(( But if adhesive is not going to hold it in until you can get it relined, I honestly don't know of any other remedy.

Also, other than the healing phase, it's not a good idea to sleep with your denture in. I know again I'm torturing you..... sorry :( The palate is not designed to have something covering it 24 hours a day. The oral tissue needs to breathe or you can develop a yeast infection on the palate and it is very hard to get rid of. Did your dentist talk to you about this.... he should have.

I know I'm not being much help here...... crap I'm sorry <;(
Please try to have an optimistic outlook because in spite of this present situation, you really are doing great and it will get better!

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,

LOL...it was such a BAD day....I went back a couple times now for adjustments and went to the oral surgeon and got a clean bill of health on the gums and then off to the dentist for another adjustment. They are shrinking so quickly, but he is there anytime I call which is great. I am on STD until 2/5, so the dentist and I talked and he said that he could do the soft relign but suggested that I try some products to see if they would ease the adjustment period. I was using the seabond, which left me with goopy saliva..LOL...I tried fixodent food control today, which even knowing what I know about all the law suits, etc, I used very little and have to admit that I ate lunch today with NO issue at all, and they feel VERY secure, but I also saw another product Cushion grip which I will be testing shortly.

I have to say that even though I have become very frustrated at times, I KNOW it is a learning experience and it is a prosthetic that I am dealing with...so I keep that in my head, plus the good pics I have that show how beautiful they are on my laptop helps...LOL...

I did try sleeping without them, that didn't work so well. I have however gotten a routine to keep both gums and dentures clean. The dentist did state at the beginning that IF they where a big issue I could sleep without them, but at the start he would prefer i leave them in, which I did...I have to say without them I feel i'm missing my best friend..LOL..I'm attached.

So, it is onto just trying products that I find work for me, as everyone is different right? I did see the other product online as well, that you mentioned and if this doesn't work, that was my next trial.

After the adjustments yesterday, the 'rocking' is gone, thank goodness and easier to eat with....

My friend took me out for breakfast this morning, we do morning coffee at my place, but she INSISTED I go OUT...I was apprehensive, but felt sooo much better as I have been avoiding the public..LOL..which my friend realized and got me out and about and I felt GREAT, although I did pull out the mirror after I ate to check....

I do notice this week, that the dentures are starting to 'feel' like teeth...meaning I can touch my canines and actually feel like they ARE teeth, maybe Phantom?

I actually look at this as a 'learning experience' which is one thing I love, learning hands on...LOL...and the only thing I can tell another new denturer wearer? BE PATIENT! Take your time, and try what works for YOU!

Thanks for your help and your advice through my trying time....good to have a place and someone to go to....;O)

Hey Kelley,

It sounds like you are determined to get acquainted with your new teeth no matter what...... and that's exactly the attitude that will get you through this!

It is great that you love your smile and are beginning to feel like they are your own teeth..... again, you are doing wonderfully!!!

Stay optimistic...... keeping getting the adjustments..... try new adhesives... remember baby steps.... one at a time :-)

Keep us posted!
Bryanna

Here is a new article on this subject:

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...ID=20102040307