The role of C. albicans in denture stomatitis

Denture stomatitis is an erythematous disorder of the denture-bearing tissues, especially the maxillary hard palate. Frequently it mimics many oral lesions. Early diagnosis of the lesion is essential to assure rational therapy. A diagnostic procedure based upon the enumeration of Candida albicans appeared to be feasible. A control group of twenty fully dentate subjects with no clinical evidence of stomatitis was sampled to establish normal concentrations of C. albicans in the oral flora. Samples were taken from a triangular area of the hard palate, serially diluted in broth, and all dilutions were incubated aerobically. In the control population, C. albicans never exceeded 100 organisms per square centimeter per subject sample. A population of edentulous patients with denture stomatitis, prior to any therapy, was similarly sampled. In many of these patients the concentration of C. albicans always exceeded 10,000 organisms per square centimeter per patient. The patients received denture replacements and antimycotic antibiotic therapy. Follow-up cultures were taken 4 to 6 weeks after completion of therapy. All patients were found to be free of denture stomatitis.