Dental Plaque And Its Role In The Cause Of Plaque Associated Diseases

Background: The human oral cavity harbors diverse communities of microbes that live as biofilms: highly
ordered, surface-associated assemblages of microbes embedded in an extracellular matrix. Oral microbial
communities contribute to human health by fine-tuning immune responses and reducing dietary nitrate. Dental
caries and periodontal disease are together the most prevalent microbially mediated human diseases, worldwide.
Materials and Methods: Both of these oral diseases are known to be caused not by the introduction of exogenous
pathogens to the oral environment, but rather by a homeostasis breakdown that leads to changes in the structure
of the microbial communities present in states of health. Both dental caries and periodontal disease are mediated
by synergistic interactions within communities and both diseases are further driven by specific host inputs: diet
and behavior in the case of dental caries and immune system interactions in the case of periodontal disease.
Results: Changes in community structure (taxonomic identity and abundance) are well documented during the
transition from health to disease. In this review, changes in biofilm physical structure during the transition from
oral health to disease and the concomitant relationship between structure and community function will be
emphasized.
Conclusion: Dental caries and periodontal disease are the most prevalent microbially mediated diseases in
humans. Dental plaque has a highly ordered structure mediated by intercellular interactions, the environment,
and the host. Periodontal disease is associated with changes in microbial community structure, i.e., taxonomic
membership and abundance. Periodontal disease is thought to be mediated by synergistic interactions between
subgingival microbial communities and the host.
Key Word: microbes, dental caries, periodontal disease.