An investigation of differences in facial vertical dimensions on candida colonization in angular region of 8 to 18 YEAR- old i̇ndividuals

With the aim of determining the relationship between varying vertical dimensions and candida colonization in the angular regions of individuals of 8 to 18 years of age, we investigated a total of 150 indviduals with low angle, norm angle and high angle vertical dimensions, with 50 individuals in each group. GoGn/SN angles on their cephalometric images were estimated in order to determine vertical morphology of their faces. Patients, whose mouth pH and degree of wetness of the mouth corners were measured, were also asked whether they have mouth-breathing and lip-licking habits. This was followed by microscopic examination of colonies grown on swab samples, which were obtained from mouth corners and planted in Sabouraud Dextroz Agar (SDA) medium. The colonies having a yeast-like appearance were subjected to germ tube tests, and candidas were identified as candida albicans (c. albicans) as one group of candida and all others as a whole. Statistical analysis for relationships between the presence of candida and facial vertical dimensions of patients was made using Kruskal-Wallis test in SPSS package with a significance level of p≤0,05. The obtained results put forward no significant relationship between the candida colonization in mouth corners and facial vertical dimensions of individuals. However, mouth-breathing habits of individuals in high angle group were found to be significantly different compared to those both in low angle and norm angle groups. Similarly, lip-licking habits of patients in norm angle group were observed to have significant differences in comparison to low angle and high angle individuals, despite the fact that the patients with low angle and high angle vertical dimensions have similar lip-licking behaviours. Key words: candida, cheilitis, jaw, vertical dimension