Association between candida albicans infection and the use of denture

Abstract

Background: Due to the increase in the average life expectancy of the population in the developing and developed countries of the world in recent years, it is estimated that the number of people over 60 years old in the world will reach 600 million in 2025. As a result, the prevalence of partial and edentulous dental arch is increasing, thus the need for oral and maxillofacial health care, including removable dentures, is expanding. Removable dentures prevent the flow of saliva through the mucous membrane, reduce the purity of bacteria, and create an environment that supports the growth of fungi. Aim: We aimed to detect oral C.albicans infection in the elderly and study its relationship with the use of dentures. Materials and methods: We used a non-probability sampling method of cross-sectional study to include 103 people over 55 years of age who attended the Department of Orthodontics of the State Dental Center of Mongolia for one month. We collected oral swab samples and information related to denture usage through a questionnaire. These samples were cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar, and DNA was extracted from the culture by boiling method. The PCR assay was performed to amplify the 16S rDNA sequence for detection of Candida spp. using universal primers. Digestion by the restriction enzyme Mspl allowed us to identify C.albicans. After amplification, the PCR products were evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The collected data was analyzed by the SPSS program. Results: C. albicans was detected in 39 (37.9%) of the collected samples. 21.4% (22) of the participants were wearing dentures for the first time, while 81 (78.6%) had used them for more than 1 year. C.albicans infection was detected in 9 (40.91%) of 22 people who had never used dentures before and those who were getting them for the first time, and in 30 (41.67%) of 72 people who had used them before, and no statistically significant difference was observed (p>0.05). However, C.albicans infection was found in 3 (14.3%) of 21 participants that used disinfectant solution for teeth and in 27 (52.9%) of 51 participants that did not use it, and the infection rate was 6.75 times higher in the group that did not use disinfectant solution (p<0.05, OD 6.75 ). C.albicans infection was detected in 45.8% (22/39) of clients who did not sleep with dentures at night, which was 4 times higher than those who slept with dentures (p<0.05, OD 4.04). Also, when the frequency of denture brushing per day increased, the detection rate of C.albicans decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: Improper denture care and hygiene over the usage period of a denture, such as sleeping with dentures, less frequent washing, and not using appropriate disinfectant solutions, increase the risk of C.albicans infection.