Mycotic growth and soft denture lining materials

Area of Science:

• Oral Microbiology
• Biomaterials Science
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Denture-related oral mycoses are common, impacting denture wearers' oral health.
• Soft-lined dentures, like those using Molloplast B, are often used for comfort but their microbial interactions require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mycotic flora present on soft-lined mandibular dentures (Molloplast B) and heat-cured acrylic maxillary dentures, as well as the associated denture-bearing mucosa.
• To correlate fungal presence with the condition of the oral mucosa (inflamed vs. healthy).
• To assess the in vitro effect of Molloplast B material on Candida growth.

Main Methods:

• Mycological analysis of dentures and oral mucosa from 39 individuals with specific denture types.
• Microbial culture and identification techniques to determine fungal species.
• In vitro testing of uncured and cured Molloplast B material against Candida growth.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher fungal detection rates on mandibular dentures (85%) compared to maxillary dentures (44%).
• High prevalence of fungi on both mandibular (74%) and maxillary (69%) mucosa.
• Candida albicans was the most common isolate (86%), followed by Torulopsis glabrata (31%).
• Uncured Molloplast B demonstrated in vitro inhibition of Candida growth, unlike cured material.

Conclusions:

• Soft-lined mandibular dentures harbor a higher fungal load than conventional maxillary dentures.
• Fungal colonization is strongly associated with inflamed oral mucosa, regardless of denture type.
• The uncured Molloplast B material exhibits antifungal properties, warranting further clinical investigation for its role in managing oral mycoses.