Introduction: A number of micro-organisms have been isolated from the oral cavity from dentulous patients. The chances of microorganisms to colonize complete denture surfaces as well as edentulous oral cavity are on the rise. Bacteria namely Streptococcus spp., Staphyloccus spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. Pseudomonas spp. and E.coli have been implicated in various cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. All these bacterial spp. have been found to inhabit complete denture surfaces. Hence their isolation frequencies from complete denture have to be studied and compared by means of meta-analysis of similar studies.

Methodology: Pubmed, Google Scholar, Open J Gate, Web of Science data bases were searched for relevant articles. 

Result: The isolation frequencies of the selective bacteria from the highest to the lowest is as follows: Streptococcus spp.(53.3%), Staphylococcus spp.(21.3), Enterobacter spp.(16.8%), Klebisella spp.(11%), Pseudomonas spp(6.1%). and E.coli (5.5%).

Conclusion: Since the isolation frequencies of these bacteria are known, the appropriate disinfection methods of complete dentures targeting the various organisms have to be implemented to prevent systemic disease likely to be caused by their aspiration.

Keywords: pathogenic bacteria, complete dentures, isolation frequencies, meta-analysis.

1.      Coulthwaite .L and Verran .J .Potential pathogenic aspects of denture plaque. British Journal of biomedical science 2007; 6(4):180-189.

2.      Marsh PD.Microbial ecology of  dental plaque and its significance in health and disease.Adv Dent Res 1994;8(2):263-71.

3.      El Solh AA,Pietrantoni C,Bhat A,Okada M,Zambon J et al (2004) colonization of dental plaques:a reservoir of respiratory pathogens for hospital-acquired  pneumonia in instituitionalized elders. Chest 126:1575-1582.

4.      El Solh AA.Association between pneumonia and oral care in nursing home residents. Lung(2011)189:173-180.

5.      Sumi.Y,H.Miura,M.Sunakawa,Y.Michiwaki and N.Sakagami .Colonization of denture plaque by respiratory pathogens in dependent elderly. Gerodontology 2002; 19(1): 25-29.

6.      Sumi Y,kagami H,Ohtsuka Y,Kakinoki Y,Haruguchi Y,Miyamato H.High correlation between  the bacterial species in denture plaque and pharya microflora. Gerodontology 2003;20(2):84-7.

7.      Yasuhiro Nishi, Katsura  Seto, Yuji  Kamashita, Chiaki Take, Asutsugu Kurono and  Eiichi Nagaoka. Examination of denture methods based on the quantity of microorganisms adhering to a denture.  Gerodontology 2012; 29: e259-266.

8.      S.Goldberg,H.Cardash,H.Browning III,H.Sahly and M.Rosenberg. Isolation of Enterobacteriaceae  from the mouth and potential association with malodor.. J Dent Res 76(11):1770-1175.

9.      N.Lewis,N.Parmar,Z.Hussain,G.Baker,I.Green,J.Howlett,A.Kearns,B.Cookson,A.McDonald,M.Wilson,D.Ready .Colonization of dentures by staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in out –patient and in patient populations..Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis(2015)34;1823-1826.

10.  E.Kanonen,S.Asikainen,S.Alaluusua.M.Kononen,P.Summanen,A.Kanervo,H.J.Some. Are certain oral pathogens part of normal oral flora in denture wearing edentulous subjects. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 1991;6(2):119-122.

11.  S.D.Harding,M.Wilson,C.Dickinson,J.Howlett and J.Hobkirk.The cultivable microflora of denture paque from patients with denture –induced stomatitis. Microbial ecology in health and disease 1991 ;4:149-157.

12.  T.Daniluk,K.Fiedoruk,M.Sciepuk,ML.Zaremba,D.Rozkeiwicz,D.CylwikRokicka,G.Tokajuk,BA.Kedra,I.Anielska,W.Stokowska,M.Gorska,BR.Kedra.Aerobic bacteria in the oral cavity of patients with removable  dentures. Advances in medical sciences 2006;51(1):86-90.

13.  Ritsuko Hori,Michiko Sato,Shoji Kohno and Etsuro Hoshino.Tongue microflora in edentulous geriatric denture –wearers. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease 1999;11:89-95.

14.  Marcelle Marie Buso Ramos,Ellen Cristina Gaetti-Jardim,Elerson Gaetti-Jardim Junior. Resistance to tetracycline and β-lactams and distribution of resistance markers in enteric microorganisms and peudomonads isolated from the oral cavity. J appl Oral Sci 2009;17(sp.issue):13-18.

15.  Ocampo Garcia ,Karla Gabriela,B asilio Robies, Julio.Oral Microbiota in Edentulous Patients. International Journal of odontostomatology 2015; 9(1):79-84.

16.  Dorota Przybylowska, Elzbieta Mierzwinska- Nastalska,Ewa Swoboda-Kopec,Renata Rubinsztajn, Ryszarda Chazan. Potential respiratory pathogens colonization of denture plaque of patients  with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Gerodontology 2014;

17.  C.M.Sedgley,L.P.Samaranayake,W.H.C.Hu,M.T.Lee. Oral prevalence of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and yeasts in hospitalized patients. Microbial ecology in health and disease 1995;8:225-234.

18.  Daniela .G.Ribeiro, Ana.C. Pavarina, Livia. N.Dovgo,Ana.L.Machado,Eunice .T.Giampaolo and Carlos .E.Vergani. Prevalence of candida spp. associated with bacteria species on complete dentures. Gerodontology 2012;29:2013-208.

19.  E.G.Kaklamanos,M.Charalampidou,G.Menexes,V.Topitsoglou and S.Kalfas Transient oral  microflora in Greeks attending day centres for the elderly and residents in homes for the elderly. Gerodontology 2005;22:158-167.

20.  Jaffari AA, Tafti FA, Bafghi AF, Arzy B. The comparison of predominant oral micro-flora in subje with and without complete denture referred to Yazd dentistry depat. Journal of community health research 2014;3(3):195-2013.