Detection of Candida Species in Periodontal Pockets

Periodontal diseases are caused by changes in the balance among oral microorganisms, the host's immune system and environmental factors. Specific microorganisms are implicated in the destruction of periodontal tissue in patients with periodontitis. Candida species (Candida spp.) have been detected in various sites, including the oral cavity, oral mucosa, intestine, and pharynx of periodontitis patients, and the frequency of detection of Candida spp. in periodontal pockets has been reported to be 2-2. 5%. However, no correlation between Candida spp. in periodontal pockets and their pathology causing periodontal diseases has ever been clearly demonstrated. The aim of the present study to determine whether Candida spp. are present in the periodontal pockets of patients with chronic periodontitis by means of PCR coupled with microbial culture and to clarify the relationship between Candida spp. and periodontal diseases. We investigated the ginigival sulcus of 100 patients with adult periodontitis (chronic periodontitis) for the presence of Candida spp. The patients were divided into two groups: in 40 patients the tooth surface was polished with Prophy-point to remove supragingival plaque before sample collection (tooth-surface-polished group), while in the remaining 60 subjects the tooth surface was cleaned with sterilized cotton swabs (non-polished group). Candida spp. were detected in 68% of the oral mucosal samples, and in 4% of the periodontal pocket samples. Polishing the tooth surface before specimen collection significantly lowered the frequency of detection of Candida spp. Whenever Candida spp. were detected in a periodontal pocket sample, a second sample was obtained from the same patient, however, Candida spp. were never detected in the second specimen. The results suggest that Candida spp. are not present in the periodontal pocket of patients with adult periodontitis. J Jpn Soc Periodontol 45: 252-259, 2003.