Dental biofilm bacterium

Dental biofilm bacterium refers to the diverse community of bacterial species that form organized biofilms (dental plaque) on the surface of teeth and oral prostheses[2][6]. Dental biofilm consists mainly of bacteria embedded in an extracellular polysaccharide matrix which facilitates their adherence and survival. More than 700 bacterial species can be found in the oral cavity, and at a given site, biofilm may include up to 100 different species[6]. Early colonizers in the biofilm are predominantly Gram-positive cocci, especially Streptococcus species (e.g., Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis), along with genera such as Actinomyces and Neisseria[2][1]. Maturing biofilm supports Gram-negative anaerobes, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans[2][4]. Dental biofilm bacteria are implicated both in oral diseases—such as dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis—and in systemic diseases when they disseminate[6]. They are not a single molecular target, receptor, enzyme, or gene, but rather a polymicrobial community, and therefore “Dental biofilm/plaque bacteria” is not a correct or specific target molecule or receptor for most therapeutic targeting purposes[4][6].

Other names

Dental plaque bacteriumDental biofilm microorganismOral biofilm bacteriumPlaque bacterium

Disruption of cell membrane integrity (e.g., chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride); Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis (e.g., amoxicillin); Inhibition of bacterial DNA synthesis (e.g., metronidazole); Inhibition of bacterial glycolytic acid production (e.g., fluoride); Inhibition of biofilm formation and adherence