RESUMEN
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Brushing with dentifrice is the most commonly used denture cleaning method. However, it can result in the mass loss of acrylic resin and an increase in surface roughness, which favors the adherence of microorganisms. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies was to assess the influence of simulated brushing by using dentifrices and water on surface roughness and the mass loss of acrylic resins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Embase, Open Gray, and Google Scholar databases in September 2022. The study selection process, data extraction, and risk of bias analysis were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol of this systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI number 10.17605/OSF.IO/QD4GH). Meta-analysis was performed by using a random effects model (α=.05) in the RevMan (Cochrane Collaboration) software program. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 2 studies in the quantitative synthesis. The manual toothbrush was the most analyzed (n=9), followed by the electric toothbrush (n=5) and denture brush (n=1). Denture base resin (n=8) was evaluated more than acrylic resin for the abrasiveness of toothpaste (n=6). Most studies used conventional toothpaste (n=12), whereas 6 used specific dentifrices. The period of brushing corresponding to 1 year was the most predominant (n=6). Surface roughness (n=13) was evaluated more than mass loss (n=4). In general, dentifrices resulted in greater surface roughness than water. According to meta-analysis results, brushing by using dentifrices reported higher mass loss values than brushing with distilled water (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Brushing acrylic resins with dentifrice was more abrasive than brushing with water.