Impact of Polishing on Candida albicans Adhesion to Dental Resins

Aim
The aim of this study was to examine Candida albicans adherence to three different dental base resin materials, as microbial colonization of dentures, influenced by surface roughness and irregularities, increases the microbial load and lead to clinical complications such as denture stomatitis and other oral and health-related issues in edentulous patients relying on removable dentures for functional and aesthetic rehabilitation.
Materials and methods
Sixty square samples (1×1 cm) were divided into three groups (n=20): G1 (heat-cured acrylic), G2 (cold-cured acrylic), and G3 (thermoplastic nylon resin), each split into two subgroups—A (laboratory-polished) and B (office-polished). Samples were incubated in a 24-hour microbial suspension at 37°C for 30 minutes, rinsed with isotonic physiological solution for 3 seconds, and transferred onto Sabouraud dextrose agar using sterile tweezers and the rolling technique. After 24-hour incubation at 37°C, colony counts were recorded and verified via microscopy. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistic 7.1 and SPSS 17.0.
Results:
The Colony Forming Unit (CFU) values ranged from 0.6 × 10³ (G3A) to 11.85 × 10³ (G2B), with an ANOVA p-value of 8.66 × 10⁻¹⁵, indicating highly significant differences among groups and between polishing methods, as well as an extremely significant difference between G2 and G3.
Conclusion:
Different dental base resin materials interact differently with C. albicans. The type of dental base material and polishing method significantly affect microbial adherence. Available evidence suggests that Candida is less likely to adhere to thermoplastic nylon resin (G3) compared to heat-cured (G1) and cold-cured acrylic resins (G2).
Key words: Candida albicans, dental polishing, dental resins, microbial adhesion.