In vitro adhesion of oral Candida species to denture materials

Objectives: Adhesion of Candida species to prosthetic acrylic resins is an essential first step in the pathogenesis of denture stomatitis. Data on the relative adhesion of pathogenic non-albicans Candida species to different denture base materials are sparse. The purpose of the present study was to investigate in vitro the adhesion of C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. dubliniensis to four different denture base materials. Methods: Specimens of both heat cured resins (VertexTM Rapid Simplified & ProBaseTM Hot) and cold cured resins (Paladur® A & Paladur® B) were prepared using a novel method and the adhesion of four strains each of the foregoing Candida species evaluated microscopically using a Soft Imaging System. Results: There was a significant difference in yeast adherence between Vertex and the other resins. Only Candida glabrata attached to Vertex, while all the remainder of the tested species adhered to all other resins tested except ProBase, which resisted C. krusei adhesion. There was a significant difference in candidal adhesion between cold-cured and heat-cured resins for three Candida species (C. albicans, P=0.039; C. glabrata, P=0.002; and C. krusei, P=0.000). Conclusions: The type of denture base material and whether they are heat-cured or cold-cured play an important role in modifying candidal adhesion.