Transmission electron microscopy of plaque accumulations in denture stomatitis

Denture pellicle in denture stomatitis has been studied with transmission electron microscopy after embedding the denture base in a water-miscible resin in seven patients with heavy plaque deposits on their dentures and in five patients with no apparent plaque accumulation. In the first group, the denture surface was covered by a well differentiated granular pellicle. A cell-free zone was interposed between the pellicle and the plaque, which consisted predominantly of rounded, rod-shaped, and filamentous microorganisms with a loose distribution, separated by an electron-lucent amorphous and gel-like matrix. C. albicans were scattered among the bacteria and often presented with degenerated cytoplasm. In the second group, a structurally heterogeneous pellicle was seen adjacent to the denture surface. A thin plaque that consisted mainly of dense accumulations of C. albicans, a narrow dense matrix, and few bacteria was found. Calculus accumulations on the dentures consisted of amicrobial calcifications in the deeper layers, whereas the superficial parts showed bacterial calcifications.