Development and validation of mathematical models for testing antifungal activity of different essential oils against Candida species.

•Evaluation of antifungal effect of different essential oils (EOs) against Candida spp.•Candida spp. isolates from denture base biofilm were microbiologically analysed.•Response surface methodology was used for modelling EOs antifungal activity.•Predicting EOs fungicide activity was done using artificial neural network.•Modelling may be suitable for determining the most efficient application of EOs.