The effect of diabetes mellitus on histopathological changes in the tissues under denture base and without mechanical pressure.

Histopathological changes in the tissues under a denture base were studied with respect to the difference between diabetic and normal rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in Wistar rats by streptozotocin. The experimental denture base was designed to make contact with the palatal mucosa without any continuous nor masticatory pressure. Histopathological observation periods were 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks after the insertion of the denture base. Histopathological examination revealed that only the transient slight proliferative reaction observed in mucosal epithelium under a denture base in normal non-diabetic rats, was lessened by induced diabetes mellitus. Moreover, covering the palatal mucosa with a denture base without any continuous nor masticatory pressure and with the maintenance of mucosal cleanliness under it and of the denture itself, did not cause any inflammatory change or bone resorption in the tissues under the base.