Denture creams are focus of lawsuits

-FayObserver

04/25/2009 - Q: I saw a lawyer advertising on TV about denture cream being a health hazard. What’s the story with this? — C.R., Fayetteville

A: Lots of potential lawsuits are brewing following a report last year that prolonged overuse of denture adhesives could lead to serious neurological problems.

In the August 2008 issue of “Neurology,” a team of doctors from the University of Texas Southeastern Medical Center in Dallas said they believed four denture-wearing patients suffered from a range of neurological problems because of their excessive use of denture adhesives. The adhesive creams contain zinc, an essential element for the human body in trace amounts.

The doctors said too much zinc can deplete the body’s supply of copper, another essential element in trace amounts, and cause neurological damage.

They said the four patients were using far more denture cream than was recommended and each had abnormally high levels of zinc in their blood, as well as abnormally low levels of copper.

Each had worn dentures for years and used at least two tubes of denture cream a week when a single tube of the cream should have lasted three to ten weeks, according to the report.

One patient’s neurological symptoms reportedly included weakness in the hands and poor balance. Another was said to be bound to a wheelchair because of weakness in her arms and legs and she also suffered from cognitive decline and urinary incontinence.

Both showed “mild neurological improvement” when they quit using denture cream and took copper supplements. The other two patients had no such improvements despite taking copper supplements. One quit using denture cream. The other didn’t.

The doctors urged people with ill-fitting dentures to seek professional help to avoid overusing adhesive cream.

Procter & Gamble, which makes Fixodent, says the zinc gives the adhesive better holding power. The company says the amount of zinc ingested by the average Fixodent user is less than the amount of zinc in most daily multivitamins.

Similarly, GlaxoSmithKline, which makes Poligrip, has said that denture cream is safe when used as directed.

If you or someone you know has suffered from symptoms of a demyelinating disease and use denture cream, you should ask you doctor to test the zinc and copper levels in your blood. This may rule out denture cream neuropathy before you begin any treatment. If you have been diagnosed with zinc poisoning you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the denture cream zinc poisoning attorneys of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. today for a free nationwide case evaluation by filling out the online form on this page or calling toll free: 1-800- 856-6405.