The effect of enriching denture adhesives with chlorhexidine diacetate on the proliferation of Candida albicans: an in vitro analysis.

Denture adhesives are widely used in dentistry. The growth of Candida albicans on the denture base is common on both jaws, particularly in elderly patients. A strong correlation has been found between the growth of Candida albicans and dentures, potentially leading to denture stomatitis. Recent studies show that the addition of chlorhexidine diacetate (CHDA) to denture adhesives can have a protective effect against denture stomatitis. The aim of this research is to examine the antifungal properties of three denture adhesives when CHDA is added. We hypothesize that the addition of CHDA to denture adhesives will result in antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Three denture adhesive materials (Corega, Protefix and Kukident) were prepared with and without the addition of CHDA in order to measure whether CHDA increased the resistance of the adhesives to the growth of Candida albicans. Dynamic and static intercellular changes were assessed through direct contact test (DCT) and confocal microscopy. The tested materials were evaluated immediately after setting and at 14 days post-setting. When combined with CHDA, all three denture adhesive materials decreased Candida albicans growth compared to the control (p less than 0.0001). This inhibition of growth was more prominent in the first 24 h. The confocal microscopy results supported the DCT findings. The addition of CHDA to denture adhesive pastes inhibits growth of Candida albicans, and may potentially reduce the incidence of denture stomatitis. Further studies are warranted.