Laura Iosif¹, Georgiana Florentina Gheorghe²*, Carmen Larisa Nicolae³* and Dan Pãtroi⁴

¹Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila”  University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania  
² Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania  
³ Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania  
⁴ Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania 

*Corresponding Author: Georgiana Florentina Gheorghe, Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania and Carmen Larisa Nicolae, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

Received: March 24, 2025; Published: April 03, 2025

Abstract

Candida-associated denture stomatitis (CADS) is a prevalent yet frequently overlooked chronic infectious-inflammatory condition affecting denture wearers, particularly the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. While often asymptomatic in its early stages, CADS progressively alters oral mucosal integrity, disrupts prosthetic function, and may act as a reservoir for systemic fungal dissemination.

Objectives: This review critically examines the multifaceted complications of CADS, emphasizing its impact on oral soft tissues, prosthetic stability, and implant survival. The interplay between fungal biofilms and host immune responses is explored, highlighting the progression from localized mucosal infection to broader systemic consequences. Furthermore, the review discusses the potential role of CADS in exacerbating conditions such as aspiration pneumonia, endocarditis, oropharyngeal candidiasis, drawing attention to its underestimated clinical significance.

Conclusion: Far from being a mere localized oral pathology, CADS represents a complex interplay between prosthetic factors, host immunity, and microbial virulence, with implications that extend beyond the oral cavity.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Denture Stomatitis; Candidiasis; Oral Biofilm; Denture; Peri-Implantitis; Oral Health; Oral Mucosa; Elderly

References

1. Qiu J., et al. "Candida-Associated Denture Stomatitis: Clinical, Epidemiological, and Microbiological Features”. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology2 (2023): 841-848.
2. Sartawi SY., et al. "Denture Stomatitis Revisited: A Summary of Systematic Reviews in the Past Decade and Two Case Reports of Papillary Hyperplasia of Unusual Locations”. International Journal of Dentistry (2021).
3. Abuhajar E., et al. "Management of Chronic Atrophic Candidiasis (Denture Stomatitis)-A Narrative Review”. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health4 (2023).
4. Budtz-Jørgensen Ejvind. "Ecology of Candida-Associated Denture Stomatitis”. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease3 (2000): 170-185.
5. Javed F., et al. "Oral Candida Carriage and Species Prevalence in Denture Stomatitis Patients with and without Diabetes”. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents2 (2017): 343-346.
6. Wictorin L., et al. "Denture Stomatitis: A Clinical, Electron-Microscopic, Microradiographic and Light-Microscopic Study”. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica5 (1975): 299-311.
7. Nakazone PA., et al. "Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Discussion About Possible Etiological Factors and Treatment Modalities”. Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences2 (2009): 62-66.
8. Klasser GD., et al. "Burning Mouth Syndrome: Recognition, Understanding, and Management”. Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America2 (2008): 255-271.
9. Bratu D., et al. "Bazele clinice şi tehnice ale protezării edentaţiei totale”. Ed. Impremeriei de Vest (2003): 29-55, 80-84, 955, 958, 962-965.
10. Greenberg MS., et al. "Burket᾿s Oral Medicine”. 11^th, BC Decker Inc. (2008): 79-84, 127-132.
11. Lago-Méndez L., et al. "Rhomboid Glossitis in Atypical Location: Case Report and Differential Diagnosis”. Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral, Cirugia Bucal 10 (2005): 123-127.
12. Joseph BK and Savage NW. "Tongue Pathology”. Clinical Dermatology 18 (2000): 613-618.
13. Rogers RS and Bruce AJ. "The Tongue in Clinical Diagnosis”. Journal of European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 18 (2004): 254-259.
14. Newton AV. "Denture Sore Mouth: A Possible Aetiology”. British Dental Journal 112 (1962): 357-360.
15. Thomas CJ., et al. "Papillarity of the Palatal Mucosa”. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation6 (1985): 491-497.
16. Webb BC., et al. "Candida-Associated Denture Stomatitis: Aetiology and Management: A Review. Part 2. Oral Diseases Caused by Candida Species”. Australian Dental Journal3 (1998): 160-166.
17. Akpan A and Morgan R. "Oral Candidiasis”. Postgraduate Medical Journal922 (2002): 455-459.
18. McCullough MJ and Savage NW. "Oral Candidosis and the Therapeutic Use of Antifungal Agents in Dentistry”. Australian Dental Journal2 (2005): 36-39.
19. Krogh P., et al. "Possible Mycologic Aetiology of Oral Mucosal Cancer: Catalytic Potential of Infecting Candida albicans and Other Yeasts in Production of N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine”. Carcinogenesis 8 (1987): 1543-1548.
20. Iosif L., et al. "Qualitative Assessment of the Removable Denture Microbiome”. Germs 14.1 (2024): 28-37.
21. Preoteasa Elena., et al. "Denture and Overdenture Complications”. Emerging Trends in Oral Health Sciences and Dentistry, InTech 11 (2015).
22. Lafuente-Ibáñez de Mendoza I., et al. "A Systematic Review on the Implication of Candida in Peri-implantitis”. International Journal of Implant Dentistry1 (2021): 73.
23. Schwarz F., et al. "Real-Time PCR Analysis of Fungal Organisms and Bacterial Species at Peri-implantitis Sites”. International Journal of Implant Dentistry1 (2015): 9.
24. Bowen Antolín A., et al. "Infections in Implantology: From Prophylaxis to Treatment”. Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral, Cirugia Bucal 4 (2007): 323-330.
25. Gacon I., et al. "Relationship Between Oral Hygiene and Fungal Growth in Patients: Users of an Acrylic Denture Without Signs of Inflammatory Process”. Clinical Interventions in Aging 14 (2019): 1297-1302.
26. Clifford KM., et al. "Challenges with Diagnosing and Managing Sepsis in Older Adults”. Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy2 (2016): 231-241.
27. Wojak KP., et al. "Host Age and Denture Wearing Jointly Contribute to Oral Colonization with Intrinsically Azole-Resistant Yeasts in the Elderly”. Microorganisms 8 (2021): 1627.
28. Malani A., et al. "Candida glabrata Fungemia: Experience in a Tertiary Care Center”. Clinical Infectious Diseases 41.7 (2005): 975-981.
29. Vila Taissa., et al. "Oral Candidiasis: A Disease of Opportunity”. Journal of Fungi1 (2020).
30. Mahajan Amani and Mrinal Gupta. “Manifestations of Systemic Diseases in Oral Cavity”. Dentomed Publication House (2021).
31. Patel M. "Oral Cavity and Candida albicans: Colonization to the Development of Infection”. Pathogens3 (2022): 335.
32. Bergendal T., et al. "Yeast Colonization in the Oral Cavity and Feces in Patients with Denture Stomatitis”. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica1 (1979): 37-45.
33. McReynolds David E., et al. "Denture Stomatitis—An Interdisciplinary Clinical Review”. Journal of Prosthodontics7 (2023): 560-570.
34. Darwazeh Azmi Mohammad-Ghaleb., et al. "Isolation of Candida Species from the Oral Cavity and Fingertips of Complete Denture Wearers”. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry4 (2001): 420-423.
35. Ralephenya Tshakane RMD., et al. "Contamination of Used Toothbrushes and Their Decontamination with Disinfecting Agents”. South African Dental Journal9 (2020): 478-484.

Citation

Citation: : Georgiana Florentina Gheorghe., et al. “Awareness of the Evolution and Complications of Candida-Associated Denture Stomatitis".Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 9.5 (2025): 12-18.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Georgiana Florentina Gheorghe., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.