Fungal Infection of the Oral Cavity by Candida Albicans in Patients Wearing a Removable Dental Prosthesis

Abstract

Permanent wearing of a removable prosthesis can be a source of mechanical irritation, which will lead to the appearance of pathological conditions. These conditions can be of several types but the most common are oral candidiasis with Candida albicans. As part of the scientific research, we have begun a practical study that aims to establish the relationship between the wearing of a removable denture and the colonization of the oral cavity by Candida albicans. This study was carried out in collaboration with the central laboratory of parasitology –mycology of the Ibn Sina University Hospital Center of Rabat (CHU) and assistant prosthesis department of the clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry of Rabat. The present study was carried out on 45 specimens from the oral cavity in subjects with a removable prosthesis. We observed that most subjects affected by oral candidiasis had inflammation in the oral cavity and these subjects did not have adequate oral hygiene. 30% of these subjects had chronic diseases and 20% of male subjects were smokers. Most subjects with prostheses older than 10 years were the most affected. Mycological examination of the samples made allowed us to note 35.5% of fungal infection by the genus Candida and 27% by the species Candida Albicans. C. albicans was the most isolated yeast representing 75% of the yeasts isolated in this study, followed by C. famata, after C.tropicalis with a lower frequency and finally C.dubluensis with the lowest frequency. We also observed a relationship between the nocturnal use of the prosthesis and the presence of Candida albicans, indeed most subjects affected by oral candidiasis kept their prostheses during the night.