Tooth–oral biofilm interface

The tooth–oral biofilm interface is the dynamic boundary between the tooth's mineralized surface, typically covered by an acquired salivary pellicle, and the complex microbial community known as dental plaque. This interface serves as the critical site for the pathogenesis of dental caries and periodontal diseases, as it mediates the exchange of nutrients, metabolic acids, and minerals between the oral environment and the tooth structure (Marsh, P. D., BMC Oral Health, 2006). Therapeutic interventions at this site focus on modulating the biofilm's composition, inhibiting the metabolic activity of acidogenic bacteria, and shifting the chemical equilibrium toward mineral gain rather than loss (Pitts, N. B., et al., Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2017). Key pharmacological agents like fluoride interact here by forming fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid dissolution, while antimicrobials like chlorhexidine disrupt the structural integrity of the biofilm (Buzalaf, M. A. R., et al., Monographs in Oral Science, 2011). The interface is characterized by a gradient of pH and oxygen, which influences the ecological succession of microbial species (Bowden, G. H., & Li, Y. H., Advances in Dental Research, 1997). Understanding the physicochemical and biological properties of this interface is essential for developing effective preventive and restorative dental treatments.

Other names

Dental plaque-enamel interfaceTooth-biofilm junctionPellicle-biofilm interfaceOral biofilm-tooth surface boundary

Drugs targeting this interface work by inhibiting bacterial adhesion, disrupting the biofilm matrix, neutralizing organic acids, or enhancing the precipitation of fluorapatite to promote remineralization of the tooth surface (Buzalaf et al., 2011).