ADHERENCE OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO EXPERIMENTAL DENTURE SOFT LINING MATERIALS

Statement of problem, Colonization of denture soft lining materials by Candida albicans can result in clinical problems. Two experimental si licone soft lining materials have: been developed and demonstrate good physical properties. Purpose of study. The aim of this study was to d etermine the extent of candidal adherence to these materials compared with a commercially available soft lining material and an acrylic resi n denture base. Material and methods. The experimental materials were constructed in a stainless-steel mold, and their surface energies were determined with a dynamic contact angle analyzer. The adherence of th ree strains of C. albicans was determined with an in vitro assay. In a ddition, one test strain was used to determine the effect on adherence of precoating the materials with whole saliva. Results. Adhesion to a ll materials was strain variable, with the lowest adherence recorded f or the two experimental materials. Decreased adherence was also appare nt after precoating the materials with saliva. Correlation between sur face energy of the material and the degree of candidal adhesion was se en for one strain, but no correlation was seen for the other two strai ns. Conclusion. Adherence of C. albicans to the two experimental silic one soft lining materials was significantly less than that for an acry lic resin denture base and a commercially available soft lining materi al.