Method for studying the development, structure and microflora of denture plaque

Pieces of sandblasted, self-adhesive tape were stuck to the fitting surface of maxillary dentures in 17 edentulous subjects with clinically normal palatal mucosa. After 1 week, during which the subjects abstained from denture hygiene, the tape samples were removed for cultural and microscopical examinations. The microorganisms were suspended in RTF by ultrasonic treatment and total viable anaerobic counts and viable counts of yeasts per cm2 of tape were calculated after inoculation of serial dilutions on nonselective medium and sabouraud agar. Total anaerobic viable counts ranged from 4 X 10(4) to 5 X 10(8). By repeated sampling the largest intra-individual variation was 10-fold, only. Yeast counts constituted less than 1% of the total viable counts in all but two of the subjects. Light and electron microscopy showed a bacterial plaque of predominantly cocci and rods.