Medical devices

Adhesive Pads – Use & Health Benefits

Sticky pad

Adhesive pads belong to the group of adhesives and are materials that are intended to improve the hold of a denture . They help to increase the bite force of denture wearers and limit typical signs of wear and tear of the jawbone. In the case of ill-fitting dentures, however, adhesive pads do not improve the hold.

What is a sticky pad?

Adhesive pads are elastic plastic films that attach to the jaw and can last up to three weeks. They are used as a lining for prostheses on the jaw to improve their hold.

Before an adhesive pad is pressed onto the prosthesis, it must be cleaned and dried. When it comes into contact with the jaw, the film becomes soft and pliable.

Before applying it to the prosthesis, it is necessary to first brush out the air bubbles from the adhesive material and trim it to size. The adhesive pads do not have to be removed from the prosthesis even when cleaning the teeth.

Sticky pads do not work like adhesives, but work on the basis of suction forces. The physical bases for the suction forces are adhesion and cohesion. When the jaw and the adhesive pad are properly seated, there is no longer any air, so the forces between the molecules of the saliva , the materials of the adhesive pad and the jaw create bonds that ensure a better hold of the prosthesis on the jaw. In addition, forces also act between the adhesive pad and the prosthesis.

Adhesive pads belong to the adhesives. These are also available in powder, cream , strip or gel form.

Shapes, Species & Types

In addition to the adhesive pads, all other adhesives also perform the same function. Powders, creams, gels or strips, among other things, are applied to the prostheses. A change in the properties of the saliva also changes its consistency, so that the interaction of all materials improves the adhesive properties of the prosthesis. Without adhesive, the prosthesis would quickly loosen.

Generally, adhesives are made of bio- or plastic polymers such as sodium alginate, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, copolymers of various monomers, paraffin, petroleum jelly, and others. Silicon dioxide, zinc, titanium oxide, iron oxide pigments or menthol, azurubin or various other substances are used as additives.

Sticky pads are specially made of materials such as polybutylene, methacrylate, polypropylene laurate, iron oxide pigment and titanium oxide. Polybutylene, methacrylate and polypropylene laurate are polymeric plastics that contain additives such as iron oxide and titanium oxide.

Structure & functionality

Basically, a denture is attached to the jaw by suction forces (adhesion and cohesion). The edge of the prosthesis must be individually adjusted to seal the prosthesis. However, there are various factors that reduce the hold of the prosthesis and make additional relining in the form of adhesive pads and other adhesives necessary.

The various movements of the tongue and mouth can, for example, cause the prosthesis to loosen and be pried off. There are significant differences in support between the upper and lower jaw . Due to the smaller contact surface, the movement of the tongue and a reduced suction effect, the prosthesis on the lower jaw can loosen more quickly than on the upper jaw. Other factors such as the shape of the jaw, the static design of the prosthesis or chewing habits also play a role in the retention of the denture.

Within about 20 years of wearing a prosthesis, for example, the lower jaw wears down so that it is no longer there. To prevent this from happening in the first place, bone augmentation work must be carried out regularly in order to reconstruct the jaw again. A well-fitting prosthesis is required to slow jaw loss. This, in turn, can only be achieved by lining with adhesives or adhesive pads.

The effect of the adhesive is based on the chemical and physical properties of the ingredients. They contain substances that swell up in the saliva and thus make the mucus thicker. This forms a film on the prosthesis, which strengthens the adhesion forces.

Typically, the adhesives must be removed and reapplied daily during cleaning of the prosthesis. However, adhesive pads can also remain on the prosthesis during cleaning. An adhesive pad can be used for up to three weeks.

Medical & health benefits

The medical benefit of an adhesive pad can be rated very highly given that a lack of relining of the prosthesis can lead to the jawbone completely degrading. The wearing process can be delayed with the help of padding with adhesive pads, which represents a significant health benefit for the prosthesis wearer. Furthermore, the costs for jaw reconstruction and dentures can be significantly reduced.

Lining the prostheses with adhesive pads is also useful, since painful pressure points can be avoided in this way. For example, if the crest of the jawbone is angular, greater stress occurs when chewing . Painful pressure points can develop, which lead to ulcers in the long term . These pressure points are predestined for infections and, in the worst case, malignant degeneration. Padding with adhesive pads can prevent this process. The healing of pressure points is also accelerated by the use of adhesives. Since the jawbone is constantly changing, the relining of the prosthesis should be padded regularly every one to two years.

Furthermore, a fixed prosthesis also increases the bite force of the teeth . However, the bite force of a full dentition, which is a maximum of 50 kp, cannot be achieved. However, up to 5 kg bite force is made possible when using an adhesive, which in turn also has an effect on improving the quality of life. In order to develop the positive effects, however, the adhesive pad should only be applied after the denture has been adjusted to the jawbone.

Lisa Newlon
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Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.