DENTURE STOMATITIS - A REVIEW

Denture stomatitis (DS) is an example of a biofilm-mediated condition. ‘Biofilm’ is a complex microbial structure which adheres to a surface and comprises of densely packed bacteria encased in a polysaccharide matrix. The common causes for onset of this condition are - colonisation and proliferation of yeast cells in denture surface irregularities, denture relining materials, continued poor denture hygiene and various systemic factors. The most crucial aspect of treatment is improvement in denture hygiene which involves denture removal at night followed by rigorous cleaning and overnight immersion in a disinfecting solution. This is essential to prevent re-infection if not removed properly since denture is commonly infected with C. Albicans. The pharmacological treatment comprises of use of topical or systemic antifungal drug therapy to halt the growth of yeast and resolve the mucosal infection. This review article provides an overview of multifactorial etiology and treatment modalities for denture-induced stomatitis