Denture Hygiene Candidiasis — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyProsthodonticsDenture Hygiene CandidiasisORE Part 1

A 45-year-old patient with a lower complete denture reports a burning sensation beneath the denture. Candida albicans is confirmed on swab. They remove the denture overnight but do not otherwise clean it. What is the most important advice to give alongside antifungal treatment?

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Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Brush the denture daily and soak it in a suitable disinfectant solution

Explanation lettering: E = shown as A · D = shown as B · A = shown as C · C = shown as D · B = shown as E

A is correct. Dentures can act as a reservoir for Candida, so antifungal treatment should be accompanied by cleaning and disinfection of the denture. SDCEP specifically advises denture wearers with oral candidiasis to leave dentures out for at least 6 hours daily and clean them in a disinfectant solution such as chlorhexidine. Daily brushing removes adherent debris and plaque before chemical disinfection. Hot water may distort denture acrylic and is not an appropriate disinfectant. Toothpaste is abrasive and may damage denture surfaces. Undiluted bleach is unsafe and can damage the prosthesis. Simply removing the denture overnight is helpful, but insufficient when denture hygiene is otherwise absent.

Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), Management of Acute Dental Problems, “Candidal infection (oral thrush)”, current guidance: https://www.acutedentalproblems.sdcep.org.uk/guidance/management-of-oral-conditions/less-common-oral-conditions/candidal-infection-oral-thrush/