Denture Cream Lawsuit: Zinc Poisoning & Neuropathy

Fixodent, Poligrip, and other denture creams have recently been linked to several serious and potentially life-threatening side effects, including a debilitating nerve disorder called neuropathy. According to news sources, reports of side effects first surfaced in 2006 when a Texas man filed a denture cream lawsuit claiming SuperPoligrip poisoned him. The man, who was diagnosed with neuropathy after using SuperPoligrip daily for eight years, said his condition was caused by excess zinc contained in the denture cream.  Since then a number of denture cream lawsuits have been filed.

Many popular denture adhesive creams, including Fixodent and Poligrip, contain the mineral zinc. Although a small amount of zinc is necessary for a healthy and balanced diet, zinc can cause copper depletion and zinc poisoning when ingested in large amounts. Severe zinc poisoning can lead to neurological problems, such as neuropathy, and even death.

In 2007, a second man filed a denture cream lawsuit after he was diagnosed with neuropathy. As a result of his neuropathy, Gerald Elliot of Ellis County, Texas, says he has lost nearly all feeling in his feet rendering him practically immobile. Although he says he didn’t believe it at first, months of testing and ruling out other factors showed that Mr. Elliot’s high zinc levels were caused by his SuperPoligrip use.

Denture Cream Neurology Study

In August 2008, a study published in the journal “Neurology” reported on four patients who suffered neuropathy and other neurological side effects associated with zinc poisoning from denture cream. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, concluded that zinc contained in denture creams could have been responsible for the patients’ symptoms. Notably, while one tube of denture cream should last 3 to 10 weeks, patients in the denture cream study were all using at least two tubes of denture cream a week.

Contact a Denture Cream Lawyer

The denture cream lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard are currently investigating cases of neuropathy and other neurological problems caused by excess zinc in denture creams, such as Fixodent and Poligrip, and evaluating whether potential denture cream users qualify to file a Fixodent lawsuit or Poligrip lawsuit. If you or a loved one uses Fixodent, Poligrip, or another brand of denture cream and suffers from neuropathy or other neurological symptoms, a denture cream lawyer can advise you of your legal rights and options for filing a denture cream lawsuit.

Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.