Abstract
Objective this study evaluated the mineral and microbiological response of biofilms originating from different types of saliva inoculum with distinct levels of caries activity.Methodology the biofilms grown over enamel specimens originated from saliva collected from a single donor or five donors with two distinct levels of caries activity (caries-active and caries-free) or from pooling saliva from ten donors (five caries-active and five caries-free). The percentage surface hardness change (%SHC) and microbiological counts served as outcome variables.Results the caries activity of donors did not affect the %SHC values. Inoculum from five donors compared to a single donor showed higher %SHC values (p=0.019). Higher lactobacilli counts were observed when saliva from caries-active donors was used as the inoculum (p=0.017). Pooled saliva from both caries activity levels showed higher mutans streptococci counts (p<0.017).Conclusion Overall, pooled saliva increased the mineral response of the derived biofilms, but all the inoculum conditions formed cariogenic biofilms and caries lesions independently of caries activity.
Highlights
IntroductionDental caries is a sugar-dependent disease of polymicrobial origin and has been described as one of the most prevalent human diseases
Dental caries is a sugar-dependent disease of polymicrobial origin and has been described as one of the most prevalent human diseases.1-3 Carious lesions are formed as a consequence of complex interactions over time between an undisturbed microbial biofilm growth producing acid on the tooth surface due to a sucrose-rich diet.4-6 The continuum acid production, creating a low pH environment, is able to drive the selection of cariogenic bacteria leading to a disease state and the development of caries lesion. 4,7The complexity of dental caries and the ethical issues related to its investigation in humans have led to the development of laboratory models to simulate the clinical condition under well-controlled circumstances
The microcosm biofilms originating from saliva or dental plaque inoculum have a similar capability of producing caries-like lesions and reproducing more closely the complexity of microbial changes related to cariogenic biofilm development
Summary
Dental caries is a sugar-dependent disease of polymicrobial origin and has been described as one of the most prevalent human diseases.. The complexity of dental caries and the ethical issues related to its investigation in humans have led to the development of laboratory models to simulate the clinical condition under well-controlled circumstances. Several in vitro biofilm models have been employed to produce caries-like lesions.. The microcosm biofilms originating from saliva or dental plaque inoculum have a similar capability of producing caries-like lesions and reproducing more closely the complexity of microbial changes related to cariogenic biofilm development.. A recent systematic review on studies using biofilm models to develop dental caries showed that the number of donors and the caries activity profile from the donors (caries-active or caries-free) vary considerably among the studies when saliva is used as the inoculum source.
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