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Many denture wearers suffer from Candida-associated denture stomatitis (DS), a fungal infection of the hard palate in contact with dentures. Biofilm formation by Candida albicans on denture/palate surfaces is considered a central process in the infection onset. Although Candida glabrata is frequently coisolated with C. albicans, its role in DS pathogenesis is unknown. We show here, using a contemporary rat model that employed a patented intraoral denture system, that C. glabrata established stable colonization on the denture/palate. However, in contrast to C. albicans inoculated rats, rats inoculated with C. glabrata exhibited minimal changes in weight gain or palatal tissue damage. Likewise, coinoculation with the two Candida species resulted in no exacerbation of C. albicans-induced DS pathology. Together, our findings indicate that C. glabrata has no inducing/enhancing role in DS pathogenesis., Denture stomatitis (DS) is a condition characterized by inflammation of the oral mucosa in direct contact with dentures and affects a significant number of otherwise healthy denture wearers. Candida-associated DS is predominantly caused by Candida albicans, a dimorphic fungus that readily colonizes and forms biofilms on denture materials. Previous studies showed a requirement for Candida biofilm formation on both palate and dentures in infection and identified fungal morphogenic transcription factors, Efg1 and Bcr1, as key players in DS pathogenesis. While both C. albicans and Candida glabrata are frequently coisolated in mucosal candidiasis, a pathogenic role for C. glabrata in DS remains unknown. Using an established rat model of DS, we sought to determine whether C. glabrata alone or coinoculation with C. albicans establishes colonization and causes palatal tissue damage and inflammation. Rats fitted with custom dentures were inoculated with C. albicans and/or C. glabrata and monitored over a 4-week period for fungal burden (denture/palate), changes in body weight, and tissue damage via lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release as well as palatal staining by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry for myeloperoxidase (MPO) as measures of inflammation. C. glabrata colonized the denture/palate similarly to C. albicans. In contrast to C. albicans, colonization by C. glabrata resulted in minimal changes in body weight, palatal LDH release, and MPO expression. Coinoculation with both species had no obvious modulation of C. albicans-mediated pathogenic effects. These data suggest that C. glabrata readily establishes colonization on denture and palate but has no apparent role for inducing/enhancing C. albicans pathogenesis in DS. IMPORTANCE Many denture wearers suffer from Candida-associated denture stomatitis (DS), a fungal infection of the hard palate in contact with dentures. Biofilm formation by Candida albicans on denture/palate surfaces is considered a central process in the infection onset. Although Candida glabrata is frequently coisolated with C. albicans, its role in DS pathogenesis is unknown. We show here, using a contemporary rat model that employed a patented intraoral denture system, that C. glabrata established stable colonization on the denture/palate. However, in contrast to C. albicans inoculated rats, rats inoculated with C. glabrata exhibited minimal changes in weight gain or palatal tissue damage. Likewise, coinoculation with the two Candida species resulted in no exacerbation of C. albicans-induced DS pathology. Together, our findings indicate that C. glabrata has no inducing/enhancing role in DS pathogenesis.

Denture stomatitis (DS) is characterized by inflammation of the oral mucosa in direct contact with dentures and affects a significant number of otherwise healthy denture wearers. The disease is caused by Candida albicans, which readily colonizes and form biofilms on denture materials. While evidence for biofilms on abiotic and biotic surfaces initiating Candida infections is accumulating, a role for biofilms in DS remains unclear. Using an established model of DS in immunocompetent animals, the purpose of this study was to determine the role of biofilm formation in mucosal damage during pathogenesis using C. albicans or mutants defective in morphogenesis (efg1-/-) or biofilm formation (bcr1-/-). For in vivo analyses, rats fitted with custom dentures, consisting of fixed and removable parts, were inoculated with wild-type C. albicans, mutants or reconstituted strains and monitored weekly for fungal burden (denture and palate), body weight and tissue damage (LDH) for up to 8 weeks. C. albicans wild-type and reconstituted mutants formed biofilms on dentures and palatal tissues under in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo conditions as indicated by microscopy demonstrating robust biofilm architecture and extracellular matrix (ECM). In contrast, both efg1-/- and bcr1-/- mutants exhibited poor biofilm growth with little to no ECM. In addition, quantification of fungal burden showed reduced colonization throughout the infection period on dentures and palates of rats inoculated with efg1-/-, but not bcr1-/-, compared to controls. Finally, rats inoculated with efg1-/- and bcr1-/- mutants had minimal palatal tissue damage/weight loss while those inoculated with wild-type or reconstituted mutants showed evidence of tissue damage and exhibited stunted weight gain. These data suggest that biofilm formation is associated with tissue damage during DS and that Efg1 and Bcr1, both central regulators of virulence in C. albicans, have pivotal roles in pathogenesis of DS.

Statement of problem In recent years, zirconium dioxide-based partial fixed dental prostheses (FDP) have been suggested as an alternative treatment to traditional metal ceramic FDPs. However, clinical studies evaluating their longevity and related complications are limited. Purpose The purpose of this cohort clinical study was to assess the efficacy of zirconium dioxide-based posterior 3-unit FDPs. Material and methods Twenty 3-unit posterior FDPs (Lava) were placed in 16 participants missing a second premolar or a first molar. All participants met specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and provided informed consent. All teeth were prepared in a standardized manner: occlusal reduction of 1.5 to 2 mm; axial reduction of 1 to 1.5 mm; a 1.0 mm 360-degree rounded shoulder placed 0.5 mm subgingivally on the facial aspect and supragingivally on the lingual aspect on sound tooth structure; and rounded internal line angles. Definitive impressions were made with vinyl polysiloxane impression material. Frameworks were fabricated by using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology with a uniform retainer thickness of 0.6 mm and a minimal connector surface area of 9 mm 2 . Restorations were luted with resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Rely-X Luting). Participants were recalled at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months, and thereafter, annually for up to 60 months. Clinical fracture measurements, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation, radiographic proximal recurrent caries, and periapical pathoses were assessed over time by using modified Ryge criteria. The probability distributions of these variables were calculated for the baseline data and for the recall data. An analysis of survival was made by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Eighteen FDPs were clinically evaluated at 5 years and 1 at 48 months. Fifteen were rated Alpha for fracture measurements, and 2 were rated Bravo (minor chipping of veneering porcelain and not requiring restoration replacement). Two were rated Charlie (major chipping of veneering porcelain and requiring restoration replacement). Eighteen FDPs were rated Alpha for marginal integrity, and 1 rated Bravo. All restorations were rated Alpha for marginal discoloration. One participant experienced root fracture after 60 months, while another was treated surgically for a periapical pathosis on an endodontically treated abutment. Conclusions Zirconium dioxide-based posterior 3-unit FDPs performed well after 5 years of service.

Denture stomatitis (DS) is a fungal infection characterized by inflammation of the oral mucosa in direct contact with the denture and affects up to 50% of denture wearers. Despite the prevalence, very little is known about the role of fungal or host factors that contribute to pathogenesis. Recently, we developed a novel intraoral denture system for rodent research. This denture system consists of custom-fitted fixed and removable parts to allow repeated sampling and longitudinal studies. The purpose of this study was to use this denture system to develop a clinically relevant animal model of DS. To establish DS, rats were inoculated with pelleted Candida albicans , which resulted in sustained colonization of the denture and palate for 8 weeks postinoculation. Biofilm formation on the denture was observed by week 4 and on the palate by week 6 postinoculation. Rats were monitored for clinical signs of disease by assigning a clinical score after macroscopic examination of the palate tissue according to Newton's method. By week 4 postinoculation, the majority of inoculated rats with dentures exhibited a clinical score of 1 (pinpoint erythema). By week 6 and week 8 postinoculation, increasing percentages of rats exhibited a clinical score of 2 (diffuse erythema/edema). Histological analysis of palate tissue demonstrated progressively increasing inflammatory cell recruitment throughout the time course of the infection. Palatal biofilm formation was commensurate with development of palatal erythema, which suggests a role for biofilm in the inflammatory response.