Denture stomatitis. The clinical effects of chlorhexidine and amphotericin B.

The clinical effects of an antibacterial substance with antifungal activity (chlorhexidine) and specific antimycotic (amphotericin B) in denture stomatitis were studied in 100 patients. Five 14-day regimens of chlorhexidine, amphotericin B or placebo lozenges combined with denture immersion in 0.2% chlorhexidine or water were tested. The efficiency of amphotericin B and chlorhexidine was comparable. This indicates that chlorhexidine has a considerable antifungal effect in the oral cavity and, further, that fungi are the responsible micro-organism in denture stomatitis rather than bacteria. Chlorhexidine frequently discloured the dentures. A high incidence of local and general predisposing factors to denture stomatitis, as well as of relapse 14 days after treatment, was observed.