NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS AS A RISK FACTOR FOR DENTURE STOMATITIS

The prevalence of denture stomatitis as well as the frequency of isola tion of Candida species and their density on the palatal mucosa have b een compared in 70 acrylic denture-wearers suffering from non-insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) versus 58 acrylic denture-wearers with normal glucose metabolism. The adherence of C. albicans to palata l epithelial cells in vitro was also assessed in both groups. The pati ents with NIDDM had a significantly higher prevalence of denture stoma titis compared with the controls. The frequency of Candida colonizatio n was increased in diabetics, but not significantly. According to the imprint culture technique, the density of Candida species was signific antly higher in patients with NIDDM compared with the controls. The ad herence of C.albicans to palatal epithelial cells from patients with N IDDM showed a significant increase compared with that observed in cell s collected from the controls. This study supports the view that NIDDM predisposes to Candida-associated denture stomatitis.