Status and treatment of denture stomatitis patients: a 1-year follow-up study

The material comprised 48 patients, 19 exhibiting atrophic and 29 hyperplastic denture stomatitis. Twenty-seven patients with healthy mucosa served as a reference group. Past history, resilience of the mucosa, denture function and scores of palatal erythema, plaque and yeasts were recorded. The therapeutic program included new dentures, surgical and nystatin treatment, hygienic instruction and nutritional advice. The result concerning past history showed significantly more smokers, more patients with recurrent urinary tract infections in combination with prolonged antibiotic therapy, and more patients wearing their dentures at night in the denture stomatitis group. Nystatin treatment did not affect the healing of palatal erythema evaluated after 1 year. The treatment program evaluated after 1 year resulted in complete healing of the mucosa in 50% of patients. The remaining 50% had persisting erythema of varying intensity. The unhealed cases showed significantly more yeasts and plaque on the denture bas compared to the healed patients and the reference group. An evaluation of factors common to failure of healing is presented.