Aim: Adherence and colonization of candida on denture soft liners is the most important contributing factor in development of denture stomatitis. This invitro study is undertaken to investigate whether the incorporation of tea tree oil into denture soft liners would inhibit the growth of candida albicans.
Materials and methods: Each 10 specimen disks incorporated with tea tree oil into soft liners (St) and without tea tree oil (S) were prepared. Both the tea tree oil daily. These disks were inoculated with candida albicans suspension for assessment of fungal growth and were rinsed with sterile water to remove loosely attached surface organisms. The attached yeasts were measured by inoculating them on saboraud's agar. Treated and control disks were stored in distilled water for 1, 30, 60 days and washed daily with wet cotton. Data between treated and control disks were compared by applying t-test.
Results: The mean colony forming units (CFU) per mm(2) for specimens without tea tree oil after water storage and wash with wet cotton for 1, 30 and 60 days was 7.1 × 10(6), 6.5 × 10(6), 6.8 × 10(6), respectively and for specimens with tea tree oil CFU decreased significantly to 2.1 × 10(6), 2.8 × 10(6), 3.1 × 10(6) after 1, 30 and 60 days. Treated disks were effective in controlling the growth of C.albicans for two months following water storage.
Conclusion: Addition of tea tree oil to denture soft liner significantly reduced growth of C.albicans suggesting a new form of intra oral effective antifungal management for denture stomatitis.
Keywords: Candida albicans; Colony forming units; Inoculum; Melaleuca alternifolia; Sabouraud’s agar; Silicone soft liner.