Denture Cream Side Effects Linked to Serious Neurological Complications

Nearly 34 million Americans depend on dentures to supplement their existing tooth count. Approximately one-third of these denture wearers will use denture cream as a part of their daily hygienic activities. Yet denture cream causes nerve damage. Recent medical studies clearly indicate that long-term exposure to denture cream may result in a serious risk of neurological complications. In a review of denture cream products liability litigations, the University of Miami School of Law reports that these medical finding have resulted in a series of nationwide personal injury, denture cream lawsuits.

To understand the legal repercussions of this issue the Miami law school first established the primary types of injury, and then tracked down the source products. The associated nerve damage complications involve various neurological conditions, including potentially life-threatening debilitating nerve disorders the likes of neuropathy and myelopathy. Two primary source products are involved:

• Fixodent, a product of Procter & Gamble
• Polygrip/SuperPolygrip, produced by GlaxoSmithKline.

Source Ingredients

Zinc, a metallic chemical element, is essential to physical welfare. When taken in small amounts, the mineral advances a healthy body. However, if consumed in excess, zinc can cause ataxia, lethargy, copper deficiency, and other complications. Copper deficiency leads to constellation of neurological symptoms that can actually result in death. Zinc is an ingredient used in both Fixodent and SuperPolygrip. In the process of applying either of these products, the denture cream user may absorb excessive amounts of zinc through their gums and/or via the normal swallowing process. The zinc ends up in the user’s bloodstream. The copper level drops. Nerve damage may follow.

Symptoms of Denture Cream Caused Nerve Damage

If you are a user of denture cream, even types other than those listed in this article, be on the watch for any of the following symptoms and injuries:

• Numbness
• Unexplained weakness
• Problems with balance or coordination
• Tingling and/or paralysis that affects your feet, hands, and/or legs
• Inexplicable pains
• Unusual weakness in your arms, hands, and/or legs
• Strange burning sensations
• A weird feeling on bare skin as though you have on gloves or socks

As with many medical complications, such symptoms go unnoticed and unconnected to zinc related complications until long after permanent neurological damage has already taken a heavy toll on the body. In this event, restoration is often limited to correction of the body’s zinc and copper levels. Although the user may cease to use the denture cream, the symptoms and injuries do not tend to improve. In most cases, the injured consumer remains in a permanent state of disability that may demand assisted means of mobility even to the point of the denture cream user being left wheelchair bound.

Denture Cream Lawsuits

As of February 2010, over 70 personal injury lawsuits have been filed on behalf of denture cream injury victims.  The basic allegations of the lawsuits state as follows:

• Both defendants, Procter & Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline, were aware of or should have been aware of the severe health hazards pertaining to their respective products
• Neither defendant exposed to their consumers the potential harm of using the denture cream products
• Both defendants motivated by profit, deliberately manufactured and sole denture cream products with a known defective design complication.

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