Denture-related stomatitis (DRS) is still a dilemma in removable prosthodontics. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of DRS with the presence of Candida albicans hyphae and Lactobacillus. A total of 91 patients wearing maxillary and mandibular complete dentures were included in the present study and tested mycologically as well as bacteriologically. A statistically significant association of DRS was found with denture age (p = 0.003) and continuous denture wearing (p = 0.015). Presence of C. albicans hyphae was shown to be significantly higher in DRS cases (p < 0.01), and there was a statistically significant positive correlation between presence of hyphae and C. albicans (p < 0.01). Another interesting finding was that DRS patients showed higher Lactobacillus counts in their saliva (p = 0.04), as well as in the palate (p = 0.028). C. albicans is an important factor in the development of DRS. Hyphae seem to facilitate the rise of C. albicans counts and be related to the inflammatory response of the tissues. Lactobacillus seems to play an important role in the presence of DRS, as well. In agreement with many other studies, the results of this study confirm the importance of denture age and continuous denture wearing in the development of DRS.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-aligning overdenture attachment system by comparing its oral health-related quality of life (OHRQL) with a traditionally used ball attachment system. In this randomized, within-subject crossover trial, 25 edentulous subjects each received 2 mandibular implants, and were then assigned to receive either self-aligning or traditional ball attachments. After 3 months, all subjects were switched to the second attachment type. The OHRQL was evaluated for both of the treatments using the short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). A subanalysis among subjects with below-average space available for attachment placement was also performed. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare differences between groups. Scores on the OHIP-14 physical disability domain were significantly better for the self-aligning attachment system (P  =  .049). Among subjects with below-average attachment space, functional limitation, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, and total OHIP-14, scores were significantly better for the self-aligning attachment system (P  =  .041, P  =  .047, P  =  .048, P  =  .026, and P  =  .005, respectively). The self-aligning attachment system for 2-implant-retained mandibular overdentures is equal or superior to traditional ball attachments in all domains of the OHIP-14.

The fracture of acrylic resin dentures is an unresolved problem in removable prosthodontics despite many efforts to determine its cause. Unfavourable occlusion could be playing an important role in the fracture of the denture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of occlusal contact localization on the stress distribution in complete maxillary denture bases utilizing two-dimensional finite element analysis. The results of this study have shown that maximum compressive stresses in a complete maxillary denture under functional masticatory forces concentrates always on the artificial tooth/denture base junction irrespective to the occlusal contact localization. Tensile stresses were observed in areas toward the midline, although the midline itself usually had lower stresses. Shifting the occlusal contacts to a more buccal localization resulted in an increase of the calculated stresses. As a conclusion, it can be speculated that the buccal placement of the occlusal contacts may play a role in the fatigue fracture of the complete maxillary denture.

This study investigates the wear resistance of four different types of occlusal splint materials based on two-body wear simulations under wet and dry conditions. Twenty specimens of each splint material (Dentalon Plus, Orthoplast, Biocryl C, and Eclipse), each with a diameter of 16 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, were tested, half under wet and half under dry conditions. Each wear test was performed using a device called chewing simulator CS-4 (n=10; test load: 50 N; number of cycles: 10000, 20000, and 30000; continuous rinsing with 30°C water for wet conditions); the antagonists were simulated using steel balls. Wear was determined using a 3D laser scanner and a surface analysis program. To detect significant statistical differences, wear data after 10000; 20000; and 30000 cycles were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. The level of significance was set at 5%. Significant differences were found between the groups of different materials tested under wet conditions (P<0.05), whereas no differences between them were found under dry conditions (P>0.05). No significant difference was found between the wet and dry conditions for all materials and cycles (P>0.05). For groups of different materials tested under wet conditions, the degree of volume loss generated in the Chewing Simulator CS-4 was found to differ significantly for different numbers of cycles. The presence of water had no effect on the volume loss in the different material groups that were tested.