Evaluation of microorganisms present in complete removable dentures

The use of removable prostheses plays an indispensable role in the rehabilitation process of people who have suffered tooth loss, since these prosthetic devices not only restore functionality but also improve aesthetic appearance. The objective is to evaluate the variety of microorganisms present in complete removable dentures. It was designed as an observational and descriptive study, covering a total of 40 removable dental prostheses, which were meticulously analyzed to extract relevant data. The study population consisted exclusively of patients over 18 years of age who had been using removable prostheses for a minimum period of one month. The findings of this study, which included a total of 40 dentures, revealed that a substantial 60% of these prosthetic devices were used by male patients, while the remaining 40% were associated with female patients, with a mean age of the participants of approximately 49,85 years, accompanied by a standard deviation of 15,47 years. Regarding hygiene practices related to prostheses, it was observed that the majority of participants washed their dentures with water daily, although it was observed that 45% of them maintained the habit of sleeping with their dentures on. The research made it possible to successfully identify the various microorganisms present in dental prostheses, with special emphasis on the prevalence of gram-positive cocci and gram-negative diplococci, which were the main bacterial entities detected