Causes and risk factors
As the name suggests, denture stomatitis is caused due to wearing of dentures. Infection due to Candida species adds to the causation. Mechanical trauma causing injury to the jaw of mouth can also lead to inflammation of mucosa. Wearing of dentures can also cause allergic reaction in some people. Along with all these, certain predisposing factors also contribute to this. The most common among them are old dentures, improper fitting dentures, or failure to remove the dentures at night, or poor hygiene of the oral cavity. Acrylic dentures are more prone towards infection. Denture stomatitis is more commonly seen in people with complete upper maxillary dentures. Diseases like diabetes mellitus or dry mouth or other conditions of the oral cavity pose a risk for developing this condition.
Clinical presentation:
Denture stomatitis causes inflammation of the oral mucosa. As a result, the mucosa is red and swollen. The individual faces difficulty in swallowing and eating. Pain and soreness is present. Burning type of pain is felt. At times, ulcer formation can be seen in the oral mucosa. Hot and spicy food aggravates the pain.
Investigations:
No special investigations are needed for diagnosing this condition. An oral examination and presence of dentures is usually sufficient to confirm the diagnosis. Culture examinations of the saliva can help in detecting the causative organism in case of infection.
Treatment:
Maintainenece of good oral hygiene is a major step which should be implemented. Improper fitting dentures must be replaced. The dentures must be removed at night. The dentures must be cleaned twice daily. If any infection persists, appropriate antifungal ointments or antibiotic medications can be prescribed. Some soothing gels for topical application can be advised for relieving the pain and soreness.
Other modes of treatment:
Certain other modes of treatment can also be helpful in coping up with the symptoms. Taking into consideration the symptoms in a holistic way, homoeopathy can offer a good aid for the relief of the symptoms. The Ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbs and synthetic derivates can also be beneficial in combating the complaints.
Recent update:
International American Association for Dental Research has published that sleeping with dentures at night doubles up the risk for developing pneumonia in elderly people.
