Effects of Denture Cleaning Regimens on the Quantity of Candida on Dentures: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Nursing Home Residents.

Oral care involving a denture cleaning regimen is important for reducing the incidence of systemic diseases. However, limited information is currently available on denture cleaning frequencies and regimens. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between the number of Candida spp. present on the complete dentures of nursing home residents and cleaning regimens. Residents were surveyed to assess their denture cleaning methods. Plaque was collected by applying a sterile swab to the mucosal surface of each examined complete denture worn by 77 residents, and the Candida spp. collected were cultured, identified, and quantified. The relationship between denture cleaning regimens and the quantity of Candida spp. was investigated. Correlation and multivariable analyses revealed that the strongest factor influencing the number of Candida spp. on dentures was the frequency of use of denture cleansers. The number of Candida spp. was the lowest on dentures cleaned daily with a denture cleanser. The present results demonstrated that the daily use of a denture cleanser effectively controlled the adherence of Candida spp. to dentures. Oral and other healthcare providers need to provide instructions on and assist nursing home residents with the daily care of dentures, using denture cleansers, including the environment where cleaning is performed.

Dry mouth and denture plaque microflora in complete denture and palatal obturator prosthesis wearers.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of dry mouth with denture plaque microflora in patients with palatal obturator prostheses from the viewpoint of infection control. METHODS: Thirty palatal obturator prosthesis wearers were compared with 30 healthy maxillary complete denture wearers. Dry mouth was examined using a moisture-checking device and was diagnosed by the measured moisture levels. Denture plaque was collected by rubbing the mucosal surface of the denture with a swab; collected microorganisms were cultured and identified using culture-dependent methods. The number of colonising microorganisms and prevalence of microorganisms were examined according to the type of prostheses and presence of dry mouth using nonparametric tests and frequency analysis (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The prevalence of Candida spp. and Staphylococcus spp. in palatal obturator prostheses was significantly higher than that in complete dentures. In palatal obturator prostheses, the total number of colonising microorganisms showed no significant differences between the groups with and without dry mouth on each side of the prostheses. However, the prevalence of Candida spp. and Staphylococcus spp. in the group with dry mouth was significantly higher than that in the group without dry mouth. The number of microorganisms and moisture levels of palatal obturator prosthesis wearers showed a significantly negative correlation with Candida spp. and Staphylococcus spp., but a positive correlation with Neisseria spp. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that palatal obturator prosthesis wearers with a dry mouth have greater colonisation by Candida spp. and Staphylococcus spp. than do complete denture wearers.

Survival of microorganisms on complete dentures following ultrasonic cleaning combined with immersion in peroxide-based cleanser solution.

OBJECTIVES: To compare ultrasonic cleaning combined with immersion in a commercially available peroxide-based cleanser solution (Polident(®) ) with other denture cleaning methods, we examined the quantity of micro-organisms that survived on dentures before and after various cleaning methods. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred complete dentures belonging to 50 nursing home residents (mean age, 84.6 years) were randomly assigned to five groups according to the cleaning method employed: (A) immersion in Polident(®) solution alone, (B) brushing with water, (C) ultrasonic cleaning with water, (D) method (A) followed by method (B) and (E) ultrasonic cleaning combined with immersion in Polident(®) solution. Before and after the dentures had been cleaned, denture biofilm was collected from the mucosal surface of each lateral half of the examined dentures. The collected micro-organisms were cultured, presumptively identified by standard methods and quantified. Comparisons between the five cleaning methods were carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparisons test. RESULTS: The denture cleaning methods involving the use of Polident(®) solution (methods A, D and E) were significantly more effective at denture disinfection than the other methods (p < 0.05); in particular, the quantity of Candida spp. was lowest after method E (median, 0.00; significantly lower than those observed after methods A, B and C; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that ultrasonic cleaning combined with immersion in a peroxide-based cleanser solution effectively reduces the quantity of micro-organisms surviving on dentures and is a suitable method for elderly individuals who find brushing their dentures difficult.

Examination of denture-cleaning methods based on the quantity of microorganisms adhering to a denture.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate effective denture-cleaning methods, we examined the relationships between the quantity of microorganisms adhering to dentures and the use of a denture brush and the frequency of use of a denture cleanser. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Denture plaque was collected from the mucosal surface of the examined dentures, which were 142 and 80 upper and lower complete dentures, respectively, worn by 96 outpatients (mean age: 71.9 years) of a university hospital and 41 nursing home residents (mean age: 84.8 years). The collected microorganisms were counted in terms of isolated representative colonies that were cultured and identified using standard methods. The use of a denture brush, the frequency of use, and the type and soaking time of denture cleansers as denture-cleaning methods were surveyed. RESULTS: The quantity of microorganisms was significantly lower in dentures of denture brush users than in those of non-users in the outpatients (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). The quantity of microorganisms was significantly lower in the dentures of outpatients who used a denture cleanser daily or 3-4 times a week than in those who used one once or less per month and in the dentures of nursing home residents who used one daily than in those who used one at other frequencies (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn's Multiple Comparison test). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the use of a denture brush and daily use of denture cleanser should be recommended to complete dentures wearers as denture-cleaning methods that effectively reduce the quantity of microorganisms adhering to dentures.