Abstract
Objectives
This study evaluated the efficacy of Acacia Arabica and aloe vera solutions versus
commercial effervescent tablets on Candida viability and adhesion to various denture bases with different materials and manufacturing
techniques.
Materials and Methods
A total of 96 square-shaped denture base specimens (24 per group) were fabricated
from heat-cured polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), thermoformed polyamide (FlexiUltra),
milled computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM; Avadent),
and 3D-printed (FormLabs) resins. Specimens were allocated into a control group (distilled
water) and three experimental groups (n = 6 per group) based on the immersion solutions: Gum acacia (GA), aloe vera, and
alkaline peroxide denture cleansers. One specimen from each material subgroup was
prepared for qualitative assessment. All specimens were incubated with Candida albicans for 48 hours and immersed in the designated disinfectant solution for 8 hours. Anti-C. albicans biofilm activity was assessed quantitatively using an MTT assay and qualitatively
using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM).
Statistical Analysis
One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for mean comparison, and data were
considered significant at p < 0.05.
Results
The reduction in mean Candida viability was greatest in the alkaline peroxide tablets across all denture base materials,
followed by GA and aloe vera (p < 0.001). GA demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in Candida levels in the thermoplastic polyamide (p < 0.001). The mean viability of Candida in both alkaline peroxide tablets and GA was statistically similar in digital denture
bases (p > 0.05).
Conclusions
The antifungal efficacy of alkaline peroxide denture cleansers was determined to be
the highest. The cost-effective GA may serve as a viable denture disinfectant, particularly
for thermoformed polyamide denture bases.
Keywords gum acacia - aloe vera - CAD/CAM - PMMA -
Candida albicans
- denture base - denture disinfectant
