Which condition is most likely to affect patients when wearing complete dentures?

Wearing complete dentures can significantly impact a patient's oral health, especially when considering dry mouth, which is often exacerbated by conditions like Sjögren's syndrome. Patients with complete dentures rely on a proper balance of saliva for retention, comfort, and the overall fit of the dentures. When patients have a diminished salivary flow due to dry mouth, the friction between the dentures and the oral mucosa can increase, leading to discomfort and potential complications such as sores or ulcers.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the salivary glands, leading to xerostomia (dry mouth). This condition can make it difficult for denture wearers to maintain adequate moisture levels in their mouths, compromising the adaptation to their dentures and increasing the risk of further oral health issues.

The other choices, while they are related to oral health, do not specifically pertain to the challenges faced by complete denture wearers as effectively as dry mouth does. Periodontal disease primarily affects the supporting structures of natural teeth rather than denture wearers, while oral mucositis and gingivitis are conditions that involve inflammation but are less directly related to the specific impacts of complete dentures on a patient's ability to maintain comfort and proper fit in their oral cavity.