Isolation of Candida Species from the Oral Cavity and Fingertips of Complete and Partial Dentures Wearers

Abstract

Purpose: Removable denture wearers commonly use their fingers to take out their prostheses from their mouths and oral Candida, if present, may colonize their fingers and constitute a source of contamination. The aim of this study was to find out the difference in oral and fingertips Candida isolation before and after wearing the prostheses, and to investigate the association between oral and fingertip Candida colonization. Methods: Fifty healthy subjects, wearing removable complete or partial dentures for the first time were included. Oral Candida species were isolated using the concentrated oral rinse technique while fingertips Candida were isolated by pressing the fingers of both hands on a plate of Sabouraud’s dextrose agar. Candida species were identified using the VITEK 2® yeast identification system. Three samples were taken from each subject; one at the insertion of the prosthesis, after one month and after two months of the insertion visit. Results: The prevalence and density of oral Candida colonization were both higher after one and two months of the insertion of removable complete and partial dentures but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was also found between the complete denture wearers (CDW’s) and partial denture wearers (PDW’s) regarding the mean candidal count (P > 0.05). Oral and fingertips Candida species presence among the same CDWs or PDWs at the initial, first and second visits was statistically insignificant.