CANDIDÍASE ORAL EM USUÁRIO DE PRÓTESE DENTÁRIA: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA SOBRE ETIOLOGIA, DIAGNÓSTICO E TRATAMENTO

Oral candidiasis is a common condition primarily caused by the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans, an opportunistic microorganism that is part of the normal oral microbiota. The clinical presentations of oral candidiasis can be divided into primary or secondary forms. The primary form can manifest in the following subtypes: pseudomembranous, erythematous, and hyperplastic. Another category, known as 'denture stomatitis,' is associated with the use of removable dental prostheses. Based on this relationship between disease development and the use of dental prostheses, the present study aims to conduct a literature review on the topic. Searches were conducted in the PubMed and SciELO databases using Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS/MeSH): "Oral Candidiasis," "Dental Prosthesis," "Oral Pathology," "Oral Hygiene," and "Oral Rehabilitation," combined with the boolean operators "AND" and "OR." A total of 167 articles were identified. After an initial review, articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria of this study were excluded, resulting in only 13 articles being included. It was concluded that poor hygiene of dental prostheses is identified as the main predisposing factor for the development of this condition, emphasizing the importance of preventive interventions and the adoption of regular maintenance routines.