Oral Microorganisms and Biofilms: New Insights to Defeat the Main Etiologic Factor of Oral Diseases

Abstract

The oral cavity presents a highly diverse community of microorganisms due to the unique environmental conditions for microbial adhesion and growth [...].

Figure 1

The biofilm formation in the oral cavity. (A) Oral surfaces (tooth and mucosal tissues) and any material (i.e., dental implant) inserted in the mouth act as a substrate for microbial adhesion and accumulation. Proteins immediately coat the surfaces from oral fluids (i.e., saliva and plasma), which is the main mediator of microbial adhesion through adhesin-receptor interactions. Then, initial colonizers adhere to the surfaces, binding to the protein layer, followed by co-aggregation processes and interaction between different species to promote biofilm accumulation. Different factors have been identified to disrupt the symbiotic state, leading to the overgrowth of putative pathogens (dysbiosis) able to trigger/foster oral diseases. (B) Polymicrobial biofilms can accumulate and induce oral diseases in different habitats of the oral environment, such as teeth, oral mucosa, and dental implants, as shown by microscopic confocal images (bottom) (created using Bio-Render^®).