Predisposing conditions for Candida spp. carriage in the oral cavity of denture wearers and individuals with natural teeth

Candida species are a normal commensal present in a large percentage of healthy individuals. Denture wearers are predisposed to the development of candidosis and to the presence of Candida spp. The presence of the yeast, even in healthy subjects, should be considered more carefully. We investigated the prevalence of Candida spp. in 112 denture wearers and 103 individuals with natural teeth, patients from the clinic of total prosthesis of the Dental School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and from the School of Pharmacy and Dentistry of Alfenas, Brazil. Factors like gender, age over 60 years, low education, and xerostomia were directly associated with the presence of Candida yeasts at a significance level of 5% (p > 0.05). However, the major predisposing factor for the carrier state was wearing dentures (p = 0.001). Candida isolates were identified using morphological and biochemical profiles. Seventy-one isolates were identified as C. albicans (65.1%), 15 as C. glabrata (13.7%), 8 as C. parapsilosis (7.3%), 3 as C. krusei (2.7%), and 12 as C. tropicalis (11.0%). Susceptibility testing to fluconazole and itraconazole was also performed with the strains obtained. Both drugs showed a strong inhibition against most oral isolates.