Claúdia Arruda et al 618 ABSTRACT Introduction: Predisposing factors in chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC) have been poorly recognized. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of Candida spp. in areas of the oral mucosa showing greater prevalent rate of CHC, such as the retrocomissural area, the lateral borders of the tongue, and the hard-palate mucosa in four groups of individuals presenting predisposing factors as follows: Smoking habits (group I); patients with low salivary fow rate (SFR) (hyposalivation – group II); patients with loss of vertical dimension of occlusion (LVDO – group III); and control subjects (group IV). Materials and methods: A total of 44 individuals (age 40– 90 years, mean: 55.8 years) were divided into four groups: Group I (11 smokers); group II (10 hyposalivation patients); group III (10 LVDO patients); and group IV (control, 13 healthy subjects). All individuals were tested for Candida-pseudohyphae form by direct examination and for Candida spp. culture growth in samples obtained from the retrocomissural, tongue’s lateral border, and hard–soft palatal mucosa. Results: Direct examination showed a statistically signifcant prevalence rate for pseudohyphae (p < 0.05) on the retrocomis- sural and on tongue’s lateral borders of individuals with LVDO. A statistically signifcant (p < 0.05) culture growth for Candida spp. was found on the retrocomissural areas of those with hyposalivation and with LVDO, and on the palate mucosa and on the tongue’s lateral borders in the smokers and in the individu- als with LVDO when compared with those of the control group. Conclusion: While direct examination is effective for detecting pseudohyphae, LVDO and tobacco smoking seem to be factors of relevance to the development of CHC. Prevalence of Candida spp. in Healthy Oral Mucosa Surfaces with Higher Incidence of Chronic Hyperplastic Candidosis 1 Claúdia Arruda, 2 Gabriela Artico, 3 Roseli Freitas, 4 Antônio Filho, 5 Dante Migliari 1,2,5 Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil 3,4 Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Division of Dermatology School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Corresponding Author: Dante Migliari, Associate Professor Disciplina de Estomatologia Clínica, Faculdade de Odontologia Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, Phone: +551130917883, e-mail: damiglia@usp.br Clinical signifcance: Since CHC has been linked to a high rate of malignant transformation, this study analyzes some clinical (and exogenous) factors that may contribute to the development of CHC and addresses some preventive measures to reduce its incidence. Keywords: Candida spp., Chronic hyperplasic candidosis, Direct examination, Pseudohyphae. How to cite this article: Arruda C, Artico G, Freitas R, Filho A, Migliari D. Prevalence of Candida spp. in Healthy Oral Mucosa Surfaces with Higher Incidence of Chronic Hyperplastic Candidosis. J Contemp Dent Pract 2016;17(8):618-622. Source of support: Nil Confict of interest: None INTRODUCTION Chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC) is a variant of oral candidosis exhibiting a clinical presentation quite similar to that of an idiopathic leukoplakia, i.e., showing a white plaque that cannot be removed by scraping. Chronic hyperplastic candidosis can also display a homogeneous or nonhomogeneous surface. The sites most affected are the retrocomissural, palatal mucosa, and the lateral surfaces of the tongue. 1-4 The CHC can (and should) be differentiated from oral leukoplakia of idiopathic origin since the former usually shows a complete (or substantial) resolution following appropriate antifungal therapy. 1,3,4 The foremost concern on CHC lesion rests on its high potential for malignant transformation. Despite the lack of epidemiological study on CHC with regard to its rate of malignant transforma- tion, there are substantial clinical evidence showing that the potential for malignization of CHC is higher than that of oral leukoplakia. 1,2,4-6 Unlike the other forms of oral candidosis, such as the pseudomembranous and erythematous, in which a ORIGINAL RESEARCH 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1900 JCDP