[The prosthesis hygiene index--a method for documentation and health education].

The microbial plaques retained in the unphysiological space between oral mucosa and denture base in case of unsatisfactory denture cleaning are always an inflammation factor that is of particular importance from the viewpoints of pathogenesis and therapy. The described denture hygiene index has been developed for the objective evaluation of denture uncleanliness and of the efficacy of hygiene measures.