A Simplified Culture for the Diagnosis of Denture Stomatitis

The relationship between the clinical features of denture stomatitis and the number of Candida colonies determined by swabs from the palatal mucosa has been proved to be close. In daily practice, if the number of Candida organisms can be assessed present without both difficulty and need for special equipment, it might be of benefit. Therefore, a simplified culture has been developed for the diagnosis of denture stomatitis in the dental office, which is based on the acid-producing capacity of Candida species and is displayed in color changes. The coefficient of correlation between the culture reaction and the clinical assessment of denture stomatitis was r=-0.64 ~ -0.86. It has also been helpful in instructing patients about denture cleanliness.