Prevalence of Candida among Denture Wearers and Nondenture Wearers

INTRODUCTION: A denture wearer is highly prone to develop Candida-associated denture stomatitis (CADS) due to the conversion of the normal oral commensal Candida spp. into a pathogen under favorable conditions. Immuno-compromised status, trauma from the prosthesis, other systemic conditions, and improper maintenance of the dentures by the patient are few of the causative agents which turn the oral balance into an unhealthy and unsuitable foundation for the wearing of the prosthesis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare subjects wearing complete dentures and nondenture wearers regarding Candida isolates associated with disease and colonization among the different age groups. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 subjects, 30 wearing complete dentures (Group-A) and 30 nondentures wearers (Group-B), were matched for gender, race, and age. The unstimulated saliva sample was collected and cultured in CHROMagar using standard protocols. RESULTS: The mean value of the candidal colony-forming units with respect to Group A is Candida Albicans 0.36 ± 2.008, Candida krusei 0.27 ± 1.061, P value Group B: C. albicans 0.73 ± 2.196, C. krusei 0.36 ± 1.084. There was a significant relation between denture wearers and heavy growth of C. albicans and C. krusei in saliva culture with a P value of P-0.054 and P-0.036, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that denture wearers with oral Candida had a higher prevalence of CADS. Patients with removable prostheses should be informed about the importance of proper prosthesis and personal hygiene since dentures and age-related immunosuppression are both well-known risk factors associated with candidiasis development, the presence of yeast, even in healthy denture wearers, should be considered a risk factor for denture stomatitis that increases with the duration of denture use.