Studying Plaque Biofilms on Various Dental Surfaces

Oral biofilms harboring pathogenic bacteria, are the major contributing virulent factors associated with diseases of the oral cavity, such as tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontitis. In addition to the virulent properties of the biofilm, adhesion to oral surfaces is a key factor in the survival of bacteria in the oral cavity. Bacteria that are not part of a biofilm are ordinarily flushed out of the oral cavity. The dental biofilm is not only a site harboring oral bacteria, but may serve as a protective environment for the embedded microorganisms. Within the biofilm ecosystem, microorganisms are less susceptible to antibacterial agents, and are better protected from the host defense system. It is also conceivable that bacteria in the biofilm exhibit different phenotypic and genotypic characteristics than do planktonic bacteria. In addition, cell-free proteins and enzymes may differ in their characteristics and activity, probably due to conformational changes upon being immobilized on the surface, and due to local conditions in the biofilm environment.