The host-organism interface in natural human dental plaque

Abstract

This study concerns the adhesion of natural apical border plaque to approximal surfaces of children's posterior teeth. The predominant intact cells were poly saccharidecontaining cocci linked to the cuticle by means of mainly fibrillar or globular polysaccharide. Correlation of the features observed with those from studies of plaque formation and microbial adhesion in other habitats suggests that approximation of bacteria to enamel cuticle (and salivary pellicle) may be due to cross-linking and salt bridging of polysaccharide until mutually repulsive net negative surface charges are overcome. Low radius of curvature of bacterial processes and low pH, the latter to be expected at the subcontact area apical border in children, would favour reduction in bacterial surface potential. The final stages in bacterial adhesion in plaque seem to involve strong forces producing flattening of the cell wall at the site of the closest contact.