Characterization of Salivary, Mucosal and Denture Surfaces Role in Denture Stomatitis: an Exploratory Study

SANDRA ALTARAWNEH: Characterization of Salivary, Mucosal, and Denture Surfaces Role in Denture Stomatitis: an Exploratory Study (Under the direction of Sompop Bencharit D. Objectives: To explore associations between clinical signs of stomatitis and tissue/denture infection, as well as salivary and serum biomarkers. Methods: An IRB approved, case-control study enrolled 32 edentate subjects, 17 with healthy palatal mucosa as controls and 15 with denture stomatitis (DS) (Newton " s classification type II and III). Rate of salivary flow, exfoliative cytology, culture, salivary cytokines levels, serum C-reactive protein levels, and DNA-DNA checkerboard analyses were performed. Results: denture levels of yeast were higher and more strongly predictive of clinical DS than salivary or mucosal levels. Certain pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were increased in DS and associated with counts of C. albicans in saliva. Conclusions: the denture, rather than the inflamed palatal mucosa, is the primary C. albicans habitat. At this point, data suggest no evidence that DS can induce systemic inflammation.