MICONAZOLE LACQUER COMPARED WITH GEL IN TREATMENT OF DENTURE STOMATITIS

An open, randomized, controlled study with two parallel treatment grou ps was done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single applicatio n of a miconazole 55 mg/g denture lacquer applied once on the mucosal denture surface, as compared with those of a commercially available mi conazole 2% gel applied four times daily for 2 wk, in the treatment of Candida-associated denture stomatitis. The efficacy variables were Ca ndida cultures on the Oricult plates taken from the palatal mucosa and the denture surface, erythema of the palatal mucosa, and smears for l eukocyte migration into the palatal epithelium taken on entering the s tudy and on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 after commencement of therap y. On entering the study, all patients had positive cultures of yeast in the samples from the palatal mucosa. Within the first 3 days, all g el patients and 88% of the lacquer patients had fewer than 10 colonies . The gel was statistically significantly more efficient than the lacq uer on days 7 and 14. In the samples from the denture surface, all pat ients had more than 100 yeast colonies at inclusion and, on day 3, app roximately 80% in both treatment groups had fewer than 10 colonies. Fr om day 7 onward, the gel was statistically significantly more efficien t than the lacquer. The reddening of the palatal mucosa was not statis tically significantly different in the treatment groups at any of the examinations, but smears for the determination of leukocyte migration indicated that the gel was statistically significantly more efficient than the lacquer on day 7. One patient in the gel group complained of gastrointestinal disturbance and stopped the treatment. On the basis o f these results, it can be concluded that a single application of the miconazole denture lacquer is safe and creates an immediate antimycoti c effect. A repeated application of the lacquer is, however, needed to achieve a prolonged effect.