Oral Biofilms

Biofilms are highly organized polymicrobial communities that are embedded in an extracellular matrix and formed on natural and artificial surfaces. In the oral cavity, biofilms are formed not only on natural teeth, but also on restorative materials, prosthetic constructions, and dental implants. Oral diseases like caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, and also pulp inflammation are associated with biofilms. This publication is an up-to-date overview on oral biofilms from different clinically relevant perspectives. Experts comprising basic researchers and clinicians report on recent research relating to biofilms - from general summaries to recommendations for daily clinical work. This book covers all aspects of oral biofilms, including models used in the laboratory, biofilms in dental water unit lines, periodontal and peri-implant biofilms, caries-related biofilms, halitosis, endodontic biofilms, and Candida infections, as well as biofilms on dental materials and on orthodontic appliances. Several chapters deal with anti-biofilm therapy, from the efficacy of mechanical methods and the use of antimicrobials, to alternative concepts. This publication is particularly recommended to dental medicine students, practitioners, other oral healthcare professionals, and scientists with an interest in translational research on biofilms.

This book provides an up-to-date perspective on oral biofilms and dental materials, equipping readers with a sound understanding of their mutual interactions. Experts from across the world comprehensively describe the main strategies that can be followed when designing modern bioactive and biomimetic dental materials, bearing in mind the goal of reducing the occurrence of pathological conditions such as secondary caries and peri-implantitis. The background to the book is the rapid expansion in the use of nanotechnologies and modern techniques to achieve levels of performance of dental materials that were unthinkable even a few years ago. Whereas conventionally dental materials have been regarded as inert, an important paradigm shift is underway: now, these materials are being conceived as bioactive and biomimetic. Modern dental materials can produce a response by interacting positively both with the host and with the biofilm permanently colonizing hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. These materials increasingly mimic the behavior of the tissues that they are replacing. In documenting the latest knowledge in the field, this book will be of value for both scientists in the fields of nanotechnology, biofilms and dental materials and interested clinicians.

In the book Microbial Biofilms: Importance and applications, eminent scientists provide an up-to-date review of the present and future trends on biofilm-related research. This book is divided with four subdivisions as biofilm fundamentals, applications, health aspects, and their control. Moreover, this book also provides a comprehensive account on microbial interactions in biofilms, pyocyanin, and extracellular DNA in facilitating Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation, atomic force microscopic studies of biofilms, and biofilms in beverage industry. The book comprises a total of 21 chapters from valued contributions from world leading experts in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Serbia, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey. This book may be used as a text or reference for everyone interested in biofilms and their applications. It is also highly recommended for environmental microbiologists, soil scientists, medical microbiologists, bioremediation experts, and microbiologists working in biocorrosion, biofouling, biodegradation, water microbiology, quorum sensing, and many other related areas. Scientists in academia, research laboratories, and industry will also find it of interest.

This book will serve as a brief yet exhaustive guide to the role of oral microbes in health and disease. It will be useful to dental and medical students and to microbiologists.

The study of biofilm considers the close association of micro-organisms with each other at interfaces and is relevant to a variety of disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, bioremediation, biofouling, water technology, engineering and food science. Although the habitats studied differ widely, some common elements exist such as method of attachment, coadhesion and regulation of biofilm phenotype and architecture. This book aims to distil the common principles of biofilm physiology and growth for all interested disciplines.

The oral cavity supports a rich and diverse microbial population. Oral health is dependent on the maintenance of stable microbial communities; disease occurs when this balance is disturbed and more pathogenic species outgrow the commensals. Health and disease in the mouth are active processes in which the ecology of communities, not of single organisms, is paramount. In this book, expert contributors from around the world provide an update on recent developments in the burgeoning field of oral microbial ecology. The chapters are arranged into five sections: microbial populations in oral biofilms, the structure of oral biofilms, communication and sensing within biofilms, health to disease, and new approaches for oral biofilm control. The various topics include: population biology * detection and culture of novel oral bacteria * bacterial catabolism of salivary substrates * structural organization of oral biofilms * the extracellular polysaccharides matrix * extracellular proteins and DNA in the matrix * a holistic view of inter-species bacterial interactions * environmental sensory perception * microbial community interactions of Streptococcus mutans * biofilms in periodontal health and disease * oral biofilms as a reservoir for pathogens * oral biofilms as a device for therapeutic agents * probiotics in oral healthcare. The book is an essential text for scientists interested in oral microbiology, bacterial communities, and biofilms. It is also recommended reading for anyone working in the areas of oral health, the pathogenesis of dental caries, and periodontal disease.

The impact of biofilms within the dental community is apparent, with application to dental caries and periodontal diseases This volume, with contributions by international experts in the field, encompasses both fundamental and clinical aspects and thus provides a valuable reference source for information on biofilm formation and control in the oral as well as in other environments.