A study of microflora of patients wearing dentures in Saudi Arabia.

Many studies had demonstrated that Candida Albicans and other bacteria have an involvement in denture induce stomatitis (DIS), among patients using dentures. (Nequist 1952 (1), Budtz 1974 (2) and Catalane 1987 (3). Predominance of bacteria over yeasts in denture plaque was found in microscopic research (Theilad, and Budtz (4) – Jorgensen 1980). Van Reenen (1973) (5) reported that in cases where an increase of Candida was found in the oral cavity, growth of other certain species of bacteria which was found to grow together with Candida Albicans and disappeared after antimycotic therapy (Martin 1981 (6), Koopman 1964 (7) ). A symbiosis between Candida Albicans and Lactobacillus was found, since the latter species receives growth factor from Candida (Lehner 1967 (8). Trauma on the other hand, may be an etiologic factor in denture stomatitis especially in Newton Class I and III cases (5). The nutritional status of the patient and denture cleanliness are additional factors which may dispose to change of oral flora (Newton 1962 (10). The purpose of this study is to gain an information on the microflora of patients using removable partial dentures in Saudi Arabia.King Saud Universit