title: Acrylic orthodontic retainer is not a risk factor for focal Candida colonization in young healthy patients: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Denture enhances the risk of Candida colonization because of adherence to acrylic base and interference with salivary rinsing. Acrylic orthodontic appliances may also create retentive areas for food debris and microbial pathogens; moreover, patients are instructed to use the retainers at night, when salivary secretion is reduced. We studied the Candida colonization in orthodontic patients using acrylic retainer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were orthodontic patients with full compliance during the retention phase with no signs or symptoms or being at risk for Candida, divided into users of (a) Hawley retainer (study group) and (b) other retainers (vacuum-formed/fixed bonded retainer; control group). Collected data included demographic characteristics and habits. Samples were collected from palate mucosa, cultured and incubated (28°C) for 3 days. Positive Candida species were recultured to identify the Candida species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients participated (mean age 20.9 ± 9.6 years); 22 had maxillary Hawley retainer and 29 had maxillary vacuum-formed/fixed bonded retainer. Candida albicans colonization in the hard palate was identified in 2 patients (3.9%)-1 (4.5%) from the Hawley retainer study group and 1 (3.4%) from the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hypothesis that palatal coverage by acrylic orthodontic retainer might enhance Candida colonization on the palatal mucosa is not supported by this pilot study.
authors.affiliation: Attending, Department of Orthodontics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Oded
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yitschaky
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katorza
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Community Dentistry, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.affiliation: Attending, Department of Orthodontics, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yitschaky
authors.affiliation: Head, Department of Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Institute, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Tel Hashomer, Israel, and Faculty, Department of Oral Medicine, The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: yehudaz@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zadik
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins