Acquired salivary pellicle and oral diseases: A literature review

Abstract

As soon as saliva contacts the teeth surface, salivary proteins adhere to the tooth surface to form acquired salivary pellicle. The formation of this acquired salivary pellicle is a dynamic and selective process of macromolecular adsorption and desorption. Although acquired salivary pellicle contains proteins and peptides, it also contains lipids, and other macro-molecules, all of which contribute to its protective properties. Acquired salivary pellicle is related to the development of common oral diseases, such as erosion, dental caries, and periodontal disease. Acquired salivary pellicle acts as a natural barrier to prevent a tooth's surface from making direct contact with acids and to protect it from erosive demineralization. It contributes to the control of dental erosion by modulating calcium and phosphate concentrations on the tooth surface. It also influences the initial colonizer of oral biofilm and affects the transportation pathway of the acidic products of cariogenic bacteria, which affects the development of dental caries. In addition, it influences periodontal disease by acting on the colonization of periodontal pathogens. This paper's aim is to provide an overview of the acquired salivary pellicle, highlighting its composition, structure, function, role in common oral diseases, and modification for the prevention of oral diseases.

Keywords: Caries; Cariology; Erosion; Pellicle; Prevention; Saliva.

Figure 1

Formation of acquired salivary pellicle A: Clean enamel surface B: Initial stage: attachment of precursor proteins (seconds to a couple of minutes) C: Developing stage: protein–protein reaction (within 45 min) D: Maturation stage: the equilibrium between adsorption and desorption (within 120 min).

Figure 2

The schematic structure of acquired salivary pellicle.