Denture stomatitis. A histological and microradiographic study of the alveolar mucosa

The alveolar mucosa in the upper jaw from 12 patients suffering from severe denture stomatitis was examined histologically and microradiographically using ultrasoft X-rays. Pathological changes of the epithelial cell layers were observed in all cases. In 10 of the 12 cases examined no keratinization was found. A reduction in the number of epithelial cell layers was commonly observed. In most cases the connective tissue showed signs of moderate to severe inflammation. The inflammatory reaction and the degenerative changes of the tissue were presumably due to a combined effect of microorganisms and mechanical trauma.