Efficacy of photodynamic therapy in the inactivation of oral fungal colonization among cigarette smokers and non-smokers with denture stomatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the inactivation of oral fungal colonization among cigarette smokers and non-smokers with denture stomatitis (DS).

METHODS: A questionnaire was used to gather demographic information. Clinical oral examination was performed to determine location of denture in the jaws and oral erythematous lesions. Presence of fungal hyphae in smokers and non-smokers was confirmed using exfoliative cytology. In both groups, aPDT was performed and colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) were assessed im both groups at 3-months follow-up. Level of significance was et at P<0.05.

RESULTS: Twenty-two males with DS (12 smokers and 10 non-smokers) were included. The mean ages of smokers and non-smokers was 73.8±2.5 and 70.5±1.2years, respectively. The duration and daily frequency of cigarette smoking was 20.6±4.5years and 12.3±1.5 cigarettes daily, respectively. Smokers and non-smokers had been wearing complete dentures since 6.2±0.8 and 5.8±0.4years, respectively. At 3-months follow-up, there was a statistically significant decrease in the mean fungal CFU/ml among smokers (25.5±8.3 CFU/ml) compared with their respective baseline values 106.7±6.3 CFU/ml (P<0.01). Among non-smokers, the mean CFU/ml values were 12.7±0.8 CFU/ml compared with their respective baseline values (93.6±8.4 CFU/ml) (P<0.01). At 3-months follow-up, fungal CFU/ml levels were statistically significantly higher among smokers (25.5±8.3 CFU/ml) compared with non-smokers (12.7±0.8 CFU/ml) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: aPDT is effective in the inactivation of oral fungal colonization among cigarette smokers and non-smokers with. The role of denture is also emphasized.