RESUMEN
Patients suffering of diseases that affect central nervous system may be considered more susceptible to the infectious diseases of mouth. Sixty-nine patients suffering of cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and metal retardation were submitted to saliva examination for the presence of Candida spp. before and after a procedure of dental cleaning. The isolates were submitted to assay for verifying phospholipase production. 55.10 percent of the patients provided isolation of Candida spp. The frequency of isolation obtained before dental procedure was: C. albicans (83.33 percent), C. krusei (8.33 percent) and C. kefyr, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata (2.78 percent each). The frequency after the procedure was: C. albicans (68.57 percent), C. parapsilosis (11.43 percent), C. krusei and C. kefyr (8.57 percent each) and Candida glabrata (2.86 percent). We verified significantly difference (p < 0.01) between populations obtained at the two examinations. Phospholipase production was verified only among C. albicans strains and the proportion of producers was higher when testing isolates obtained after dental cleaning procedure. Studies focused on Candida spp. isolation are useful for better comprehension of the role of these yeasts on the oral flora from patients with cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and metal retardation.