PRESENCE OF CANDIDA GENUS YEASTS IN THE SALIVA OF PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT PREDISPOSING FACTORS AND OF CONTROL INDIVIDUALS

Candida genus microorganisms are common to the normal oral flora, but in certain individuals and in specific situations they can produce oral candidosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of Candida species in the saliva of control individuals and compare the results with those from patients with different predisposing factors. Four-hundred and ninety-three patients were divided in 7 groups: full denture wearers, removable partial denture wearers, patients with adult chronic periodontitis, mouthbreathers, fixed orthodontic appliance wearers, removable orthodontic appliance wearers, or facebow wearers. The control group consisted of 570 individuals who did not present any of these factors, divided in 2 groups: child and adult. Isolation and identification of Candida species were performed. The results showed higher percentage of positives for Candida in patients with predisposing factors in relation to the control. C. albicans was predominant in all groups. However, patients with predisposing factors presented higher diversity of species

Candida; Candida albicans