Candida spp. in denture stomatitis patients: effect of palatal brushing

Abstract

Denture stomatitis (DS) is a common condition among edentulous patients and is often associated with a wide range of risk factors. The presence of Candida spp. and denture biofilm are usually mentioned as important factors, leading to the need for oral health instructions as part of the therapy. Within this context, denture cleansing instructions are consensual; nevertheless, there is little evidence supporting or rejecting the efficacy/effectiveness of cleansing oral tissues as a treatment for DS. This protocol aims to evaluate the efficacy of palatal brushing as a treatment for DS, in terms of Candida spp. counts on palatal mucosa and dentures. Complete denture wearers with diagnosed DS will be enrolled and allocated into a single-arm, which will brush their palate with a soft-bristled toothbrush. The study outcome will be the count of colony-forming units of Candida spp. on palatal mucosa and the intaglio surface of upper complete dentures. Data assessment will happen before (baseline) and after 1 and 3 months of palatal brushing. Statistical comparisons will determine significant differences, if any, among the three time periods (±=0.05).(AU)