Miami Class Action Claims Damages from Zinc in Denture Cream
The Palm Beach Post reports that a hearing will be held in Miami, Florida for a class action lawsuit against Proctor and Gamble Co., makers of Fixodent, and British-based GlaxoSmithkline, makers of National Institute of Health. Among the product liability claims are the defective nature of the creams, failure of the companies to warn of potential danger, and failure to take corrective measures.
In 2008, a report from the Neurology medical journal stated that there may be a link between zinc in denture cream and nerve damage. Four patients in the study used excessive amounts of denture cream and reported nerve disorders, according to doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The report noted that the study was not conclusive, but further investigation is warranted. However, too much zinc can purge the body’s level of copper.
The companies maintain that the zinc contents found in their denture creams are safe when used as directed and should not be used to aid with poor-fitting dentures. While a tube of denture cream should last three to 10 weeks, the four patients in the study used excessive amounts of denture cream. Both Proctor and Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline have taken steps to address the issue, providing sections on their websites about zinc and distributing informative leaflets with their denture cream products.
While the American Dental Association also noted that the correlation between zinc in denture cream and neurological problems has not been proven, it cautioned individuals to refrain from overusing the products.
