Prevalence of Candida in oral cavity of patientswearing dental prosthesis / Ocorrência de Candida na cavidade bucal de usuários de prótese dentária

ABSTRACT

A dental prosthesis is a devise used to substitute missing teeth in order to restore the functional and aesthetic factors affectedby the total or partial loss of one or more units. However, there is a high prevalence of oral candidiasis in denture userpatients. The objective of the present study is to assess the prevalence of microorganisms in the oral cavity of denture usersand to identify and determine the frequency of the main Candida species present in the oral cavity of these individuals.Eighty one subjects were randomly addressed, oral mucosa samples were collected and a questionnaire was administeredto assess the profile of this population. The identification of species was performed using a chromogenic culture medium.Fifty six point eighty one percent of the individuals reported pre-existing diseases, especially hypertension (22.72 %) anddiabetes (9.09 %). Candida grew in 77.27% of the denture users and in 22.27% of the individuals without prosthesis. Candidaalbicans was the most prevalent species in patients wearing dental prosthesis and in the control sample. A significantcorrelation between the presence of Candida and the use of prosthesis was found. Thus prosthesis users require permanentcare from a dentist in terms of hygiene, adaptation and substitution. These attitudes promote oral health and life quality ofusers reducing the incidence of Candida infections.