Prevalence and risk factors of candidiasis in patients with total prostheses.
Description
This study aims to determine the prevalence of oral candidiasis and its possible relationship with risk factors in patients wearing total dental prosthetics. The investigation was carried out at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Odontológica Clinic of the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), during the period from May 2025 to August 2025, using a transversal, experimental and primary source design. 60 patients who met specific inclusion criteria were included. Each person was given a questionnaire designed to evaluate general health conditions, use and status of the device, hygiene habits, and presence of oral symptoms. Subsequently, a clinical evaluation of oral cavity and prosthetics was carried out, and the muscles were collected by exfoliative cytology. These were dyed with methylene blue and observed under the microscope to confirm the presence of Candida albicans. The statistical analysis included frequency tables and the probability of Chi-cuadrado, with a significance level of 5%. The results indicated a prevalence of oral candidiasis of 28.3%. Although clinical trends were identified, such as the major presence of candidiasis in patients of advanced age and with deficient prosthetic hygiene, no statistically significant associations were encountered within the infection and the factors being analyzed (education, sex, hygiene, comorbidities, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, quality and integrity of saliva). The saurral aspect of the tongue and the coral pink palatal color were frequent in the group with candidiasis. Microbiologically, the presence of inflammatory cells was observed in 16.7% of the cells and bacterial colonies in 90%. If we conclude that, although oral candidiasis occurs with moderate frequency in users of total prosthetics, the factors evaluated did not show a significant relationship with its appearance. The low state power, attributed to the musical scale, may limit the detection of relevant associations. The hallazgos highlight the need to implement clinical follow-up programs, education about prosthetic hygiene and studies with more extensive training to deepen the understanding of this condition.
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This research followed an experimental, cross-sectional, and primary-source design. Data collection was conducted at the Dr. René Puig Bentz Dental Clinic of the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) between May and August 2025. 1. Sample Selection A total of 60 complete denture wearers were included, selected through non-probability convenience sampling, based on previously defined inclusion criteria (age over 40, use of upper or lower complete denture, signed informed consent, among others). 2. Data Collection Instruments A validated structured clinical form was used, reviewed by a panel of experts. The form included: ● Sociodemographic data (age, sex) ● Prosthetic information (edentulous area, type of edentulism, usage and duration) ● Habits (denture hygiene, alcohol/tobacco use) ● Systemic diseases ● Clinical observations (palatal color, tongue appearance, clinical signs of candidiasis) 3. Clinical Data Collection Procedure Each patient was examined clinically in a dental unit. The oral cavity and denture surfaces were inspected, and clinical signs associated with prosthetic candidiasis were recorded. 4. Cytological Sampling Samples were taken from the palatal mucosa using a sterile cytobrush, gently swabbed with moderate pressure. The collected material was smeared onto a clean glass slide, air- dried, and stained with methylene blue for microscopic observation. 5. Microscopic Analysis The slides were analyzed at the UNPHU histology laboratory using a Motic inverted light microscope at 40x magnification. Key cellular structures were identified, including Candida albicans pseudohyphae, inflammatory cells, bacterial colonies, vesicular nuclei, and epithelial components. 6. Statistical Processing The data were organized in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and later analyzed using SPSS v26 software. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were calculated, and Chi-square tests were applied to determine associations, with a significance level set at 5%.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena