The present study tried to integrate all aspects of denture care: patient satisfaction with the treatment, denture decontamination and base material defects after decontamination processing.

Considering that it is necessary to stipulate a simple and effective routine protocol for denture cleaning the aim of this study was to evaluate, in vivo, the efficacy of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as a denture cleanser and its effect on color stability and surface roughness of complete dentures. The patients' satisfaction with the denture cleaning method was also assessed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• complete denture wearers; adequate general health conditions
• ability to comply with the experimental protocol
• time of denture use: at least one year prior the study
• denture base material: heat-polymerized acrylic resin.

Exclusion Criteria:

• the use of antifungal agents or antiseptic mouthwashes during the pre-experimental and experimental period.