Effectiveness of a tissue conditioner containing antifungals in a rat model of denture stomatitis

Abstract

Aim: This study investigated the effectiveness of a drug-modified tissue conditioner in an animal model of denture stomatitis.

Methods and results: Wistar rats wore a Candida albicans-contaminated palatal device for four days. Next, nystatin (Nys) or chlorhexidine (Chx) were added to a tissue conditioner in their raw or β-cyclodextrin-complexed (βCD) forms at their minimum inhibitory concentrations. As controls, one group was not subjected to any procedure (NC), one group used sterile devices (SD), one group had denture stomatitis but was not treated (DS), and another had the devices relined with the tissue conditioner without the addition of any drug (Soft). After four days of treatment, treatment effectiveness was assessed visually, histologically, and through CFU count, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) assays. Rats from the Soft, Nys, Nys:βCD, and Chx groups presented a significant decrease in the microbial load compared to the untreated group. Treatment groups showed lower MPO and NAG activity compared to the non-treated group.

Conclusions: The addition of antifungals to a soft tissue conditioner can be a promising approach for denture stomatitis treatment.

Keywords: Candida albicans; beta-cyclodextrins; chlorhexidine; dental tissue conditioning; denture stomatitis; nystatin.