Dental Plaque Biofilms

By: Anna Frutiger

Introduction

Dental plaque can be defined as a diverse community of microorganisms located on the tooth surface as a biofilm. The biofilm is embedded within an extracellular matrix, consisting of polymers of both host and microbial origin [1][2]. Only recently has dental plaque begun to be considered a biofilm, which has further contributed to understanding periodontal disease and the best ways to prevent and control this in the future [3]. As a biofilm, dental plaque has an open architecture much like that of other biofilms, consisting of channels and voids, which help to achieve the flow of nutrients, waste products, metabolites, enzymes, and oxygen [4]. Because of this structure, a variety of microbial organisms can make up biofilms, including both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The microbial composition of dental biofilms include over 700 species of bacteria and archaea, which all exist in a relatively stable environment called microbial homeostasis [2]. Dental plaque biofilms are responsible for many of the diseases common to the oral cavity including dental caries, periodontitis, gingivitis, and the less common periimplantitis, however biofilms are also present on healthy teeth as well [5]. Because dental biofilms (and other biofilms) express an entirely different set of genes than free-floating bacteria, they are of particular interest to researchers and thus much is currently being done to explore the diverse nature of these microbial structures.

Section 1

Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.

Section 2

Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.

Section 3

Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.

Conclusion

Overall paper length should be 3,000 words, with at least 3 figures.

References

(1) Marsh, P.D. "Dental Plaque as a Microbial Biofilm." Caries Research. 2004. Volume 38. p.204-211. http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=CRE2004038003204

(2) Marsh, P.D. "Dental plaque as a biofilm and a microbial community - implications for health and disease." BMC Oral Health. 2006. 6(Suppl 1): S14. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2147593

(3) Nield-Gehrig, J. S. "Dental Plaque Biofilms." Dental Plaque Biofilms. http://www.dentalcarestamford.com/pdf/Denta%20Plaque%20Biofilms.pdf

(4) Overman, P. R. "Biofilm: A New View of Plaque." The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2000. Volume 1. No. 3. P. 018. http://www.thejcdp.com/issue003/overman/01over.htm

(5) Sbordone, L., Bortolaia, C. "Oral microbial biofilms and plaque-related diseases: microbial communities and their role in the shift from oral health to disease." Clin Oral Invest. 2003. Volume 7. P. 181-188. http://www.springerlink.com/content/25m9v7f8928h6gj3/

Edited by student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 238 Microbiology, 2009, Kenyon College.