An edentulous patient wears complete dentures continuously (never removes them) and has poor hygiene. The palate shows a diffuse reddish erythematous change beneath the maxillary denture. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Correct answer: A. Denture stomatitis (chronic atrophic candidiasis)

• A. CORRECT — Diffuse reddish/erythematous change of the denture-bearing palatal mucosa in a patient who wears dentures continuously with poor hygiene is denture stomatitis (Newton Type I/II), which is a form of chronic atrophic candidiasis caused by Candida albicans colonization.
• B. Papillary (inflammatory) hyperplasia presents as a nodular/pebbly (cobblestone) mucosa; it can coexist with denture stomatitis, particularly in chronic cases, and is Newton Type III.
• C. Epulis fissuratum presents as a hyperplastic tissue fold along the denture flange border, not as diffuse palatal erythema.
• D. SCC in this location typically presents as a non-healing ulcer or exophytic mass, not diffuse erythema.