As poor denture hygiene is related to Candida colonisation, disinfectant solutions have been proposed as an effective method of preventing denture stomatitis. This study assessed the efficacy of denture cleansers on Candida albicans and Candida glabrata adherence on denture liners. Another aim was to correlate materials' surface roughness (Ra) to Candida adherence. Specimens of three denture liners (soft and hard polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based and soft silicone-based) were prepared and had their Ra measured. Specimens were randomly divided to adherence assays with C. albicans or C. glabrata. After contamination with the fungi, specimens were treated with an enzymatic cleanser solution, a cleanser solution or a 0.5% NaOCl solution by soaking for 3, 15 or 10 min, respectively. Control group specimens were soaked in distilled water for 15 min. Number of remaining Candida cells after treatment was determined by light microscopy (x400). Analysis of variance (alpha = 0.05) showed that Ra of the silicone-based liner was lower than that of the PMMA-based liners (p < 0.05). The overall results showed high C. glabrata adherence (p < 0.001), while the lowest levels of remaining Candida cells were found for the treatment with 0.5% NaOCl (p = 0.0019). No difference among denture cleansers and control was found (p = 0.19). There was no correlation between Ra and C. albicans or C. glabrata adherence in all materials tested. The only treatment able to reduce both Candida species adherence on all materials tested was 0.5% NaOCl solution.

Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may influence on muscular tensions and probably alter occlusal force. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hormonal levels affect maximum occlusal force (MOF) of healthy women throughout the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Sixty complete dentate subjects who were not under use of oral contraceptives were selected to participate in this study. MOF was bilaterally evaluated on the molar region, during 3 complete menstrual cycles, using 5.65 mm-wide sensors. Measurements were carried out during each of the following menstrual cycle phases: menstrual, follicular, periovulatory and luteal, presumed by ovulation test. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer test (p<0.05). Comparisons among menstrual cycle phases showed no differences on MOF (p = 0.27). Under the conditions of this study, it may be concluded that hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle do not affect MOF of a sample of healthy women.