OP - CANDIDA-ASSOCIATED DENTURE STOMATITIS TREATED WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: FOUR CASES

Denture stomatitis (DS) is a common oral inflammatory reaction in denture wearers, especially under the maxillary prosthesis. Multiple etiological and predisposing factors are believed to be responsible for its initiation and progression, but Candida albicans is the main etiological agent. Many different methods of treatment for DS have been observed. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an emerging alternative to treat infections, which utilizes a photoactive dye, oxygen and visible light to generate reactive oxygen species that irreversibly damage the pathogens during illumination. The aim was to report the efficacy of aPDT in four patients diagnosed with DS associated with Candida. The clinical effectiveness was measured using Newton´s criteria. Mycological samples from palatal mucosa and prosthesis were obtained to determinate colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), and Candida species were identified with CHROMagarT Candida. All the volunteers were treated with five sessions of aPDT with methylene blue (0.01%) and were irradiated with a laser at 660 nm (InGaAlP, 4J, 100mW, Photon lase III, DMC, São Paulo) in the palatal mucosa and prosthesis. All volunteers showed clinical improvement of DS and significant reduction in numbers of CFU/ml. Antimicrobial PDT appears to be an effective alternative treatment for DS associated with Candida.