EN ISO 10873:2026

• Abstract:

  This document classifies denture adhesives used by wearers of removable dentures. It also specifies requirements, test methods and instructions to be supplied for the use of such products.; This document is applicable to denture adhesives for use by the consumer and excludes the dental lining materials prescribed or applied by dental professionals.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2026
• ICS: 71.100.70 - Cosmetics. Toiletries
• ICS: 97.170 - Body care equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 55 - Dentistry
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 01-Jul-2026
• Completion Date: 01-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 10873:2026 - Dentistry - Denture adhesives (ISO 10873:2026)

• Replaces: EN ISO 10873:2021 - Dentistry - Denture adhesives (ISO 10873:2021)
• Effective Date: 06-Mar-2024
• Refers: ISO 8601-1:2019 - Date and time — Representations for information interchange — Part 1: Basic rules
• Effective Date: 21-Oct-2026
• Refers: ISO 3696:1987 - Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
• Effective Date: 21-Oct-2026
• Refers: ISO 1942:2020 - Dentistry — Vocabulary
• Effective Date: 21-Oct-2026
• Refers: ISO 7823-2:2003 - Plastics — Poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets — Types, dimensions and characteristics — Part 2: Extruded sheets
• Effective Date: 21-Oct-2026
• Consolidated By: ISO 10873:2026 - Dentistry — Denture adhesives
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026

EN ISO 10873:2026 is a CEN European Standard that adopts ISO 10873:2026 for dentistry. It classifies denture adhesives for wearers of removable dentures and specifies the requirements, test methods and user instructions for consumer products. The document is used by manufacturers, laboratories and buyers who need a common way to describe and verify denture adhesives.

What does EN ISO 10873:2026 specify?

EN ISO 10873:2026 covers denture adhesives used by wearers of removable dentures. It applies to products for consumer use and excludes dental lining materials prescribed or applied by dental professionals.

The document is organized in Clauses 1 to 9, with a bibliography at the end. Clause 4 classifies the products, Clause 5 sets the requirements, Clause 7 gives the test methods, Clause 8 covers packaging, and Clause 9 covers accompanying information such as instructions for use and labelling. Table 1 links each test method to the requirement it supports.

What are the key requirements of EN ISO 10873:2026?

Classification and general product control

EN ISO 10873:2026 classifies denture adhesives as Type 1: glue type and Type 2: liner type. Type 1 is further divided into powder, cream, sheet or tape forms.

This matters because the test method depends on the product type and form. A buyer or quality manager should check the classification first, because the same product can only be judged against the requirements for its own type and class.

General requirements in Clause 5

EN ISO 10873:2026 requires attention to biocompatibility, microbiology and stability. Clause 5.1.1 highlights the possible effect of metallic ion release on biocompatibility, and Clause 5.1.3 requires the product to show no deterioration that would affect conformity after the aging procedure in Clause 7.2.

In practice, this means a manufacturer has to consider both short-term performance and storage aging. The introduction also points readers to ISO 7405 and ISO 10993-1 when assessing biological hazards.

Type 1 requirements

EN ISO 10873:2026 requires Type 1 adhesives to be washable and to meet a minimum adhesion strength. Clause 5.2.1 requires no residual lump on a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plate after the washability test, and Clause 5.2.2 sets the adhesion strength requirement at not less than 5 kPa.

This matters for products sold as powders, creams, sheets or tapes: the product has to stay usable in the mouth, but also come off the denture surface cleanly enough after use. The two adhesion strength tests in Clause 7 are provided so that different Type 1 forms can be checked in ways that match their handling.

Type 2 requirements

EN ISO 10873:2026 requires Type 2 adhesives to meet adhesion strength, peeling and consistency requirements. Clause 5.3.1 sets adhesion strength at not less than 5 kPa, Clause 5.3.2 requires no residual lump on a PMMA plate after peeling, and Clause 5.3.3 sets the consistency requirement at not less than 15 mm.

In practice, this means liner type products must hold adequately, separate cleanly, and keep a controlled spread or flow behavior during use. These are the properties that affect how the wearer applies the product and how it behaves under service conditions.

Sampling, test conditions and pass/fail assessment

EN ISO 10873:2026 requires the sample to come from one lot and be enough for all tests in Clause 7. All tests are carried out at (23 ± 3) °C, and Clause 7.2 gives an aging procedure at (40 ± 2) °C and (75 ± 5) % relative humidity for 3 months, or equivalent conditions that simulate 30 months at room temperature.

The assessment rule in Clause 7.9 is practical for routine quality control. If four or more of five results conform, the product passes; if three or more of five do not conform, it fails; if exactly three of five conform, the test is repeated on another five samples and all of those results must conform.

Packaging and user information

EN ISO 10873:2026 requires packaging that will not contaminate the adhesive or allow contamination. Clause 9 requires instructions for use with application and removal directions, ingredients, use cautions, safety precautions and storage/handling advice.

For the label, the standard requires identification of the manufacturer or distributor, trade name, product description using the Clause 4 classification, lot number, net mass or contents, storage conditions if needed, warnings if needed, and a tracking code with an intelligible production date when shelf life is under 30 months. That gives the user and buyer the information needed for traceability and safe use.

What terms does EN ISO 10873:2026 define?

• Denture adhesive - A dental product placed on the intaglio surface of a removable denture to temporarily improve retention to soft supporting tissues.
• Glue type - A denture adhesive in powder, cream, sheet or tape form with a water-soluble polymer as the adhesive constituent.
• Liner type - A denture adhesive in non-aqueous form.
• Type 1 adhesives - The glue type products covered by the document, including powder, cream, sheet and tape forms.
• Type 2 adhesives - The liner type products covered by the document.
• Intaglio surface - The fitting surface of the removable denture, as noted in the definition of denture adhesive.

Who uses EN ISO 10873:2026?

EN ISO 10873:2026 is used by manufacturers of denture adhesives, including developers, production teams and contract manufacturers. They use it to classify products, design validation tests, prepare instructions for use and write package labels.

Testing laboratories use it for washability, adhesion strength, peeling and consistency testing under defined conditions. Quality managers and buyers use it to compare products from different suppliers and to check that product information and packaging match the declared type.

It is also relevant to dental and oral care product teams working with removable dentures, because the standard is built around how the adhesive behaves on the denture and during removal by the wearer.

What changed in EN ISO 10873:2026 from the previous edition?

EN ISO 10873:2026 supersedes EN ISO 10873:2021 and is identified as the third edition of ISO 10873. The main changes stated for this edition are the deletion of the pH value requirement in Clause 5.1.2 and the deletion of the pH value measurement in Clause 7.2.

Which standards are used with EN ISO 10873:2026?

• ISO 1942 - Provides the dentistry vocabulary used for terms and definitions.
• ISO 3696:1987 - Specifies grade 3 water for the test methods.
• ISO 7823-2 - Specifies the poly(methyl methacrylate) sheet material used for plates and holders.
• ISO 8601-1 - Gives the date format used for the tracking code on the package when shelf life is under 30 months.
• ISO 7405 - Supports the evaluation of biocompatibility of dental medical devices when biological hazards are assessed.
• ISO 10993-1 - Supports biological evaluation within a risk management process.
• ISO 16212, ISO 18415, ISO 18416, ISO 21148, ISO 21149, ISO 21150, ISO 22717, ISO 22718 and ISO 29621 - Are pointed to in Clause 5.1.2 for microbiological contamination and related test guidance.

What does the EN ISO 10873:2026 document contain?

The document contains classification rules, performance requirements, sampling guidance, test methods, packaging requirements and instructions and labelling requirements. Table 1 links each test to the corresponding requirement, which makes it easier to set up quality control and product release checks.

Clause 7 contains the practical laboratory methods, including the test conditions, aging procedure and the detailed set-ups for Type 1 and Type 2 products. The figures show the test instruments, sample holders, specimen layouts and the sampler used in the consistency test.

For day-to-day use, this means the standard is not just a description of product categories. It gives the technical basis for testing, comparing, documenting and marking denture adhesives before they are placed on the market.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 10873:2021
Zobozdravstvo - Lepila za zobne proteze (ISO 10873:2026)
Dentistry - Denture adhesives (ISO 10873:2026)
Zahnheilkunde - Prothesenhaftmittel (ISO 10873:2026)
Médecine bucco-dentaire - Adhésifs pour prothèses dentaires (ISO 10873:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 10873:2026
ICS:
11.060.01 Zobozdravstvo na splošno Dentistry in general
71.100.70 Kozmetika. Toaletni Cosmetics. Toiletries
pripomočki
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 10873
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
July 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 71.100.70 Supersedes EN ISO 10873:2021
English Version
Dentistry - Denture adhesives (ISO 10873:2026)
Médecine bucco-dentaire - Adhésifs pour prothèses Zahnheilkunde - Prothesenhaftmittel (ISO
dentaires (ISO 10873:2026) 10873:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 27 April 2026.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 10873:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 10873:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 106
"Dentistry" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 55 “Dentistry” the secretariat of which
is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2027, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2027.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 10873:2021.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 10873:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 10873:2026 without any modification.

International
Standard
ISO 10873
Third edition
Dentistry — Denture adhesives
2026-06
Médecine bucco-dentaire — Adhésifs pour prothèses dentaires
Reference number
ISO 10873:2026(en) © ISO 2026
ISO 10873:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 10873:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Classification . 2
4.1 General .2
4.2 Types and classes .2
5 Requirements . 2
5.1 General .2
5.1.1 Biocompatibility .2
5.1.2 Microbiology .2
5.1.3 Stability .2
5.2 Specific requirements for Type 1 adhesives .2
5.2.1 Washability.2
5.2.2 Strength of the adhesion to the prosthesis .2
5.3 Specific requirements for Type 2 adhesives .2
5.3.1 Adhesion strength .2
5.3.2 Peeling property .3
5.3.3 Consistency .3
6 Sampling . 3
7 Measurements and test methods . 3
7.1 Test conditions .3
7.2 Determination of stability — Aging procedure .3
7.3 Test of washability (for Type 1 adhesives) .3
7.3.1 Apparatus and materials .3
7.3.2 Reagent .3
7.3.3 Procedure .3
7.4 Adhesion strength test I (for Type 1 adhesives) .3
7.4.1 General .3
7.4.2 Apparatus .4
7.4.3 Procedure .5
7.5 Adhesion strength test II (for Type 1 adhesives) .7
7.5.1 General .7
7.5.2 Apparatus .7
7.5.3 Procedure .7
7.6 Adhesion strength test (for Type 2 adhesives) .8
7.6.1 Apparatus .8
7.6.2 Procedure .9
7.7 Peeling test (for Type 2 adhesives) .9
7.7.1 Apparatus and materials .9
7.7.2 Reagent .10
7.7.3 Procedure .10
7.8 Consistency test (for Type 2 adhesives) .10
7.8.1 Apparatus .10
7.8.2 Procedure . 12
7.9 Assessment . 12
8 Packaging.12
9 Accompanying information .12
9.1 Information to be included in the instructions for use . 12
9.2 Labelling on the package . 13

iii
ISO 10873:2026(en)
Bibliography . 14

iv
ISO 10873:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 106, Dentistry, Subcommittee SC 7, Oral care
products, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee
CEN/TC 55, Dentistry, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN
(Vienna Agreement).
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 10873:2021), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the requirement for pH value (5.1.2) has been deleted;
— pH value measurement (7.2) has been deleted.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

v
ISO 10873:2026(en)
Introduction
Denture adhesives are used to improve the retention stability of removable dentures to soft supporting
tissues temporarily. This document is intended to determine the physical and chemical properties of denture
adhesives.
Specific qualitative and quantitative requirements for freedom from biological hazards are not included
in this document. It is recommended that, in assessing possible biological hazards, reference be made to
ISO 7405 and ISO 10993-1.
vi
International Standard ISO 10873:2026(en)
Dentistry — Denture adhesives
1 Scope
This document classifies denture adhesives used by wearers of removable dentures. It also specifies
requirements, test methods and instructions to be supplied for the use of such products.
This document is applicable to denture adhesives for use by the consumer and excludes the dental lining
materials prescribed or applied by dental professionals.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1942, Dentistry — Vocabulary
ISO 3696:1987, Water for analytical laboratory use — Specification and test methods
ISO 7823-2, Plastics — Poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets — Types, dimensions and characteristics — Part 2:
Extruded sheets
ISO 8601-1, Date and time — Representations for information interchange — Part 1: Basic rules
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 1942 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
denture adhesive
dental product placed on the intaglio surface of a removable denture to temporarily improve its retention to
soft supporting tissues
Note 1 to entry: The intaglio surface is also known as the fitting surface.
[SOURCE: ISO 1942:2020, 3.3.1.23, modified — Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.2
glue type
denture adhesive (3.1) in powder, cream, sheet or tape form with a water-soluble polymer as the adhesive
c
...