Clinical and Microbiological Evaluation of Removable Prosthetic Restorations in Patients Treated With an Organ Transplant.

BACKGROUND: Removable dentures improve function and aesthetics of masticatory organ. Their proper scheme of use and hygiene procedures have an impact on biofilm formation. Microorganisms in biofilm are often resistant to many antibiotics and may pose a potential threat to patients treated with organ transplant. The study provided for evaluation of dental prostheses hygiene standards with reference to staphylococcal microflora in kidney transplant recipients.

METHODS: The study involved 62 patients with removable prostheses. Thirty-seven subjects of this group had renal replacement therapy. The other 25 were volunteers with normal renal function. Medical and dental history was collected. Denture hygiene was assessed and swab sampling for microbiological testing were performed on the impression surface of the denture plate.

RESULTS: Denture hygiene standards and proper scheme of their use were significantly better in patients of the control group. In both groups, significantly with longer denture use, patient care to provide proper hygiene standards declines. Staphylococcal strains were found in 92% patients of the study group and 84% of the control group, 43% of which were multi-drug resistant strains. No relation was found between patients overall health conditions as well as denture use methods and composition of staphylococcal denture plaque.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall health conditions and denture use methods might not have an influence on staphylococcal denture plaque composition. However, the studies conducted did not answer the question of whether the above factors cause quantitative differences. Multidrug-resistant staphylococcal strains inhabiting denture surface may pose a threat to the health of kidney transplant recipients.