In vitro study of the adherence of Candida albicans to acrylic resins: relationship to surface energy.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine whether small variations in the composition of the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) of widely used dentures produce differences in the degree of Candida albicans adherence and to relate any differences found to the surface energy of the resins, which appears to play a major role in the initial phases of microorganism adhesion.


METHODS
A reference strain of C albicans (18.804 ATCC) and 11 different PMMAs (Vacalon, Inkotherm 85, Veracril, Probase Cold, Inkotherm Press, Inkotherm 85 T, Ruthinium, Vertex, SR Ivocap, Idoacryl, Lucitone) were used. Fifty specimens (15 x 10 x 1 mm) of each type were prepared. C albicans adhesion was determined by microorganism count under fluorescent optical microscope, and the surface energy of the resins was calculated by the contact angle method. P < .05 was regarded as significant.


RESULTS
C albicans adhesion on the resins ranged from 7.12 cells/mm2 to 330.8 cells/mm2, with statistically significant (P > .05) differences in some cases. Despite small variations in the composition of the resins, their surface energy values were very similar (38.78 to 41.2 mJ/m2), and no relationship was found between C albicans adhesion and surface energy.


CONCLUSIONS
The adhesion of C albicans to different resins varied in vitro, possibly as a result of the action of residual postpolymerization products. According to these results, variations in surface energy that result from differences in the composition of the different PMMA resins appear to have no influence on the adhesion of C albicans or, therefore, on the onset of denture stomatitis.
Serrano-Granger
Carlos
C
Department of Medicine and Buccofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n 28040, Madrid, Spain. david.granger@terra.es
Cerero-Lapiedra
Rocío
R
Campo-Trapero
Julián
J
Del Río-Highsmith
Jaime
J
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D013499:Surface Properties; D017155:Wettability
D000180:Acrylic Resins