Tea tree oil : a new antifungal agents against candida albicans cells on heat–cured acrylic resin denture base material - an in vitro study

Abstract EN

Aims : in this research, the antifungal effect of tea tree oil on Candida that colonizes the heat cured acrylic resin denture base material was evaluated.

Materials and Methods : in this clinical trial, 24 patients wearing upper complete dentures for more than one year were selected randomly from patients who were attending private dental clinics at Mosul city.

Swabs from inner surface of upper complete dentures were taken for each patient then Candida albican were isolated, after that these dentures were immersed in the antifungal drugs (tea tree oil solution 15 % and fluconazole solution 64 μg / ml) at 24 h and 48 hr.

After that another swap was taken for each sample of complete denture to determine the antifungal effects of these agents.

Results : the results of this study revealed that tea tree oil solution 15 % and fluconazole solution 64 μg / ml had a significant antifungal effects, although tea tree solution effect was significantly less than fluconazole effects compared to control group [Candida albican culture (before immersion)].

Conclusions : the use of therapeutically active compounds extracted from plants like tea tree oil will offers a natural alternative with excellent antifungal effect and can be employed to reduce number of Candida albicans cells including those adhered to acrylic denture base material.

This approach to fungal control is believed to be a practical for home care of dentures.