The clinical and histological appearance of the different types of denture stomatitis are in many respects very similar and confluent. In order to study the correlation between clinical and histological appearance and amount of yeasts, 48 patients with denture stomatitis and 24 with a healthy palatal mucosa were examined. The terms atrophic and hyperplastic denture stomatitis were introduced. The intensity of the palatal erythema and the growth of yeasts were most prominent among patients with hyperplastic lesions. Dryness and soreness of the mouth, angular cheilitis, spontaneous hemorrhage, glossitis and leukoplakias were found to a varying extent. No statistical evidence of correlation between the intensity of clinical erythema, amount of yeasts and grade of subepithelial inflammation could be found. The disease has most certainly a background other than solely increased growth of yeasts.