Influence of Denture Base Fabrication on Candida albicans Adhesion and Early Biofilm: An In Vitro Comparison of Five Techniques.

Background/

Objectives

Denture stomatitis is closely associated with Candida albicans colonization of denture-base surfaces. This in vitro study compared early adhesion (1 h) and initial biofilm formation (24 h) of C. albicans across five denture-base-related material groups using adhered cell counts and adhered/inoculum proportions.

Methods

A 5 × 2 factorial design (five material groups; 1 and 24 h) evaluated a comparator pattern resin, heat-polymerized acrylic resin, autopolymerizing acrylic resin, milled CAD/CAM PMMA, and microwave-polymerized acrylic resin. All specimens underwent standardized finishing and mechanical polishing before microbiological testing. Data were log10-transformed and analyzed by two-way ANOVA (material group, time) with Tukey's post hoc test. An external SEM-based qualitative laboratory report was used as complementary documentation of C. albicans presence after 1 h and 24 h; representative micrographs and quantitative SEM image outputs were unavailable.

Results

Material group, time, and their interaction significantly affected adhered C. albicans counts (p < 0.05). At 1 h, the comparator pattern resin showed the highest adhesion, whereas at 24 h, milled CAD/CAM PMMA showed the highest adhered load. For the adhered/inoculum fraction, both material group and time were significant; at 24 h, the heat-polymerized acrylic resin showed the lowest adhered fraction.

Conclusions

Under the standardized finishing and mechanical polishing conditions of this in vitro model, the tested material groups showed different C. albicans adhesion/biofilm patterns over time; clinical extrapolation should be made with caution.