Evaluation of microbial contamination in removable dental prosthesis at different time of usage

AIM: The current study evaluates and compares the percentage distribution of different microorganisms according to their strains and occurrence among the three studied groups. METHOD AND METHODOLOGY: Sample of 30 removable dental prosthesis wearing patients was selected: wearing either complete dentures or partial dentures and without any significant medical history or on prescription medication for the past 3–6 months. Samples were obtained in three subcategories based on the duration of prostheses worn by the patient. A sterile swab made up of cotton moistened with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was scrubbed on the dental prosthesis at the fitting surfaces and the denture-bearing area of the oral cavity. Within two hours, the collected swab sample was infused in the sterile tube containing 1 ml of 0.84% PBS solution maintained at pH 7–7.2 and sent for microbiological analysis. The samples were then inoculated into different medias. Microbial growth was checked after incubating the culture plates for 48 h at 37°C. Microorganisms were recognized and counted by calibrated colony counter. Gram's stain was used to stain the colony smear and biochemical tests such as coagulase, catalase, oxidase, sugar fermentation with acid and gas production (triple sugar iron), methyl red test, test for indole production, hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S) production, citrate utilization, urease test, germ tube tests were performed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics included calculation of means and standard deviation using multivariate analysis. All values were considered statistically significant for a value of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Streptococcus species, Coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the maximum positive culture among the secluded microorganisms in all three groups. CONCLUSION: A progressive increase in the microbial contamination was directly proportional to the duration of removable prosthesis usage.