OBJECTIVE: 

Prevalence estimates for denture stomatitis (DS) among U.S. adults have been based on small or non-representative samples. We present results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-1994 (NHANES III), a multi-stage sample of 19,528 households.

METHODS: 

The prevalence of DS in complete denture (CD) wearers from is reported.  Data analysis was performed using SUDAAN 8.0. Factors included in the analysis were antibiotic, antifungal, steroid, and tobacco use; age, race/ethnicity, gender, diabetes mellitus, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1C levels.

RESULTS: 

Individuals taking antifungal medication were excluded. Of the 17,235 subjects 17 years of age and older examined, 2,429 (13.5% weighted count) had 1 or 2 CDs. 28.6% of individuals had DS, 95% CI: 25.6, 31.6. Significant associations were found for: age (χ² =10.66; p=.008), cigarette smoking (χ²=10.32; p=.002), race/ethnicity (χ²=14.92; p=.001). A multivariate logistic model, determined that cigarette smokers had 1.3 times the odds of DS (CI: 1.00, 1.68), Whites had 1.46 times the odds of DS (CI: 1.21, 2.34), while Mexican-Americans had 2.04 times the odds of DS (CI: 1.40, 2.95) compared to Blacks. Individuals 40-69 years of age had 1.45 times the odds of DS (CI: 1.09, 1.94) compared to individuals ≥ 60 years.

DISCUSSION:

We found that while almost 29% of CD patients had DS, there was no association between DS and antibiotic, steroid, cigar, pipe, diabetes and gender. Age, race, and smoking were found to be significant in our model. Cigarette smoking was the only modifiable risk factor that we found for DS, although the effect size was small.  This analysis did not address denture quality as a covariate.

CONCLUSION:

The commonly assumed association between DS and diabetes or antibiotic use is not supported by our findings.