NCJ Number
138337
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 999-1007
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
In order to investigate the effects of dentures and denture adhesives on mouth alcohol retention, this study examined denture-wearing subjects undergoing prolonged oral exposure to alcohol, both with and without the concurrent use of adhesives.
Abstract
The study employed the Intoxilyzer 5000 instrument, an automated infrared breath alcohol analyzer using two analytical and one reference wavelengths. The programmed analytical test sequence consisted of two successive breath samples, each preceded and followed by a system purge with room air. Denture-wearing subjects were asked to refrain from alcohol consumption during the 12-hour period prior to testing, and they were paid $30 for participating in the study. Subjects were asked to hold 30 mL of 80-proof brandy in their mouths for 2 minutes without swallowing prior to expectorating. Beyond 20 minutes following expectoration, mouth alcohol made no significant contribution to the apparent breath alcohol concentration, with trace readings found in only two subjects. Denture use, both with and without the concurrent use of adhesives, did not significantly alter the apparent breath alcohol concentration as long as a pretest alcohol deprivation period of 20 minutes was observed. It was determined that even a 15-minute pretest alcohol deprivation period could provide adequate insurance against mouth alcohol contamination of apparent breath alcohol concentration readings obtained from denture-wearing subjects. 15 references, 1 table, and 4 figures