Low-Molecular-Weight Chitosan Varnish for Treatment of Oral Candidosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Oral Medicine Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Department of Polymer Science, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute (IPPI), Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Shahed University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Background: Oral candidosis is a common fungal infection among denture wearers, often associated with poor denture hygiene and the colonization of Candida species on denture surfaces.The present study aimed to investigate the antifungal effect of low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) varnish on oral candidosis in denture wearers, compared to nystatin ointment.
Methods: This study is a single-blind (patients blinded) Parallel-group, randomized clinical trial. Eligibility criteria were denture wearers with Newton’s type II denture stomatitis, no systemic diseases, and no recent antifungal use. The study was done in Dental clinics in Kerman, Iran. The 34 patients were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: 18 (patienchitosan), 16 (nystatin). LMWC varnish (10% wt. in ethanol-rosin base) or nystatin ointment was applied 4 times daily for 2 weeks to the denture inner surface. Primary outcomes were reduction in palatal erythema (clinical) and fungal count (blastospores/mycelia per 100 epithelial cells, microscopic(. A palatal smear for microbial assay was obtained before and after treatment. Low molecular weight chitosan varnish was prepared by dissolving chitosan in ethanol (30% wt.). Data were analyzed using the Chi-square and t-test.
Results: No harms were reported in the study. The study showed that chitosan varnish has positive effects on the treatment of oral candidosis in comparison with Nystatin. It made a significant decrease in erythema in clinical view and fungi count in microscopic view. Differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study and other biochemical chitosan benefits showed that chitosan could be a good substitute for the treatment of oral candidosis.

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Main Subjects


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