Denture stomatitis treated with photodynamic therapy: five cases

Objective. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective method for Candida spp. inactivation in vitro and in vivo, but as yet, no clinical trial has been conducted. This report describes 5 cases of denture stomatitis (DS) treated with PDT. Study design. Five subjects with clinical and microbiologic diagnosis of DS were submitted to 6 sessions of PDT 3 times a week for 15 days. In each session, patients' dentures and palates were sprayed with 500 mg/L Photogem, and, after 30 minutes of incubation, irradiated by light-emitting diode light source at 455 nm (37.5 and 122 J/cm(2), respectively). Cultures of Candida spp. from dentures and palates and standard photographs of the palates were taken at baseline (day 0), at the end of the treatment (day 15), and at follow-up time intervals (days 30 and 60). Results. Four patients showed clinical resolution of DS (no inflammation) after PDT sessions, and only 1 subject demonstrated reduction in palatal inflammation. Recurrence of DS was observed in 2 patients during the follow-up period. Conclusions. PDT appears to be an alternative treatment for DS. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011; 112: 602-608)