Denture Induced Changes in Palatal Plaque Microflora

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Abstract
Changes in the composition of the cultivable flora of the palatal mucosa in edentulous patients following the insertion of their first complete denture were investigated. Samples were taken before insertion of the denture and one week and four weeks after insertion of the denture onto selective media for differential counts of the flora. The insertion of a denture favoured the development of a plaque with increased proportions of bacteroides, lactobacilli and actinomyces, at the expense of streptococci and neisseriae. Candida species were present in only a minority of samples but were detected more commonly following denture insertion and were associated with the presence of lactobacilli. The denture induced a flora which had much in common with supragingival plaque and was rich in organisms with considerable pathogenic potential.