ADHERENCE OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO DENTURE-BASE MATERIALS WITH DIFFERENT SURFACE FINISHES

Objectives: To assess the in vitro adherence of Candida albicans to he at-cured hard and soft denture-base materials with varying surface rou ghness, and to observe the effect of a mixed salivary pellicle on cand idal adhesion to these surfaces. Methods: In vitro adhesion assays on heat-cured acrylic resin (Trevalon), Molloplast B and Novus using the type strain of C, albicans (NCPF 3153A). Surfaces for the assays were prepared using clinically appropriate rotary instruments. Unstimulated , pooled and clarified whole saliva was used to assess its effect on a dhesion. Results: Significantly greater adhesion of C. albicans to rou gh rather than smooth surfaces was found (P < 0.001), as well as incre ased adhesion to the machined soft lining materials compared with acry lic. Pre-coating denture-base materials with saliva reduced candidal a dhesion on all materials. Conclusions: Rough surfaces on denture-base materials promote the adhesion of C. albicans in vitro. However, saliv a reduces adhesion of C. albicans and thus diminishes the effect of su rface roughness and free surface energy differences between materials. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.