The Effect of Controlled Diabetic and Non-diabetic Saliva on Candida albicans Adherence to Heat Polymerized Acrylic Resin Discs

Oral candidiasis is one of the most common infections in diabetic patients that may occur due to a decrease in salivary flow rate, alterations in the salivary composition, or both. This study aimed to investigate the effect of diabetic and non-diabetic saliva on Candida albicans adherence to the acrylic resin disc specimens, regardless of saliva volume.

In this case-control study, the population consisted of 26 subjects in 2 groups (13 diabetic patients and 13 non-diabetic patients). In both groups, unstimulated whole saliva was collected. It was investigated for pH, salivary flow rate, and adhesion of C. albicans to polymethylmethacrylate disc. After preparing the polymethylmethacrylate discs, the samples were stored in diabetic saliva, non-diabetic saliva, and distilled water (negative control group) for 60 minutes at 37oC. Then they were immersed in the yeast suspensions containing C. albicans and stained with gram stain. Yeast cells were counted using a light microscope.

The pH of unstimulated whole saliva in diabetic patients was significantly lower than in the control group. There was no significant difference between the flow rates of saliva in the two groups. Findings indicated that the adhesion of C. albicans to resin in diabetic saliva was higher than in non-diabetic saliva.

This study showed the same amount of salivary flow rate in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, lower pH, and higher Candida adherence to heat polymerization acrylic resin in the diabetic group.