Journal of Microbiology & Experimentation Dental Plaques: Microbial Community of the Oral Cavity Abstract Review Article Dental plaques are the biofilms or the microbial population associated with Volume 4 Issue 1 - 2017 the oral cavity and is responsible for several clinical conditions that affect the host system. Despite the fact that, the oral micro flora offer certain benefit to the host by offering protection to the epithelial cell from damage and enhances School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, the digestion of some substrates, their harmful consequences cannot be denied. India The oral cavity dwells over 700 different species of bacteria and is described as one of the most intricate ecosystem. Though majority of them are considered *Corresponding author: Ranganathan Vasudevan, School of as commensally, some of them are responsible for oral infections ranging from Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur- cavities to periodontal diseases and gum related infections. The current review 613 401, India, Tel: +91-8121119692; attempts to provide a better understanding of these bacterial communities of the Email: oral cavity. The review provides the insights on dental plaque in general followed by the formation of these dental plaques and the stages involved in the growth Received: September 2, 2016 | Published: January 31, 2017 and maturation of these dental biofilms. A wide range of micro flora is associated with dental plaques and the review has Attempted to list out the bacterial community at the respective clinical condition and their classification based on their location and stage of infection. The components and the consequences of the dental biofilms have addressed. The review also attempts to disclose the significance of molecular biological methods in improving the identification and characterization of the oral microbial community and has also focused on the possible treatment for dental plaques. Keywords: Dental plaques; Dental biofilms; Oral micro biota; Gram positive and negative bacteria; Dental plaque diseases Introduction usually associated with the oral diseases which include cavities andas well other as gum bacterial diseases, plaque its construction biofilms [2]. is Though normal thewhich plaque cannot is be prevented. Dental plaques can result in tooth decay which as a The scientific investigators and researchers over the last microbial populations and the intricate activities associated consequences leads to tissue damage due to the acidic secretion withfew decades these communities. have attempted It is ato very disclose interesting the significance fact about ofthese the microbes that they have the ability to engineer their system acidic nature causes the demineralization of the teeth resulting in theof the formation bacteria. of These calculus dental which biofilms is also can known be quite as tartar. serious These as their are of a series of internal metabolism which includes the contribution hardened structures that require immediate attention through according to the ecosystem they are confined to as a consequence from their genetic makeup. This is one of the reasons that make professional cleaning as they cannot be removed by tooth brush. these minute creatures exigent when it comes to the aspect of It is therefore very essential to eradicate these dental plaques to wiping them out through a suitable remedy because the earlier avoid the formation of dental caries and related gum disease [3,4]. method will be outdated for the second time due to the extent of adaptability exhibited by the microbe. This aspect of these minute creatures makes them a study of research as it reveals theirResearch microbial studies composition. have confirmed Though the thestructural dominant and type functional found possible measures of safe guarding the human society from the inorganization the infected of sitesthese are dental diverse biofilms from and those are found diverse in inuninfected terms of threats posed by the microbial community [1]. The current review sites, the alleged perpetrators can be detected in low numbers at would attempt to focus on one such aspect which involves the regular sites [5]. Studies have disclosed the role of mutant species of streptococcus and lactobacilli in dental caries due to their plaque is a common term associated with the oral microbial ability to tolerate acidic environment. However, the involvement bacterial community of the oral cavity and its significance. Dental of other species with relevant traits cannot be denied. One of the of bacteria that invade the mouth and can result in a series of most effective strategies of controlling the dental plaques is by healthcommunity concerning which issuescomprises [2]. These of the plaques biofilms can orbe afound population within the surfaces of the mouth and are described as sticky color less deposit in the beginning but later on transforms in to a tartar eliminatingFormation biofilm of dental formation. biofilms sometimes referred to as calculus which is brown to pale yellow in appearance and can be found between the teeth, on the front non living surfaces which range from a wooden plank or any and back of the teeth and all along the gum line. Researchers have otherBiofilms material are tomicrobial human tissues.communities They thatare highlygrow oncomplex living and regarded dental plaque as microbial plaque, oral/dental biofilms Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com J Microbiol Exp 2017, 4(1): 00100 Copyright: Dental Plaques: Microbial Community of the Oral Cavity ©2017 Vasudevan 2/9 organized structures that initially exist as a plank tonic cell. species. The environment within the mouth is vital as warmth; After attachment they pass through a series of developmental moisture and neutral pH favor the growth of microorganisms stages which result in growth and multiplication leading to the formation of mature cells capable of causing the infection. These carious[8]. The regions microbial and composition in the sub-gingival of the normalregions. plaqueThe reason biofilms for bacteria resilient to a range of antimicrobial agents by offering thissignificantly diversity differsis due tofrom the presencethis bacterial of different community set of genesconfined when to thembiofilms protecting also play [6,7]. a significant One of the role most in widelymaking studied these enclosedareas of producing bacterial community is different as it facilitates major changescompared in to bacterial free floating behavior. bacteria. These As behaviorala matter of changesfact, a biofilm could bacterial biofilms includes the dental plaques otherwise referred include their interaction with the other microbes and the host Theto as bacterial oral biofilms community or bacterial within plaque the oral biofilms cavity is which considered has been to be a organism in addition to their response to the environmental veryscientific complex challenge and highly to the diverse medical comprising and pharmaceutical of over 700 industry.different conditions [9]. Figure 1: Depicts the formation of dental biofilms on tooth surface [8]. StagesFigure of 2: dental biofilms formation Schematic representation of different stages of bacterial plaque biofilm formation. Citation: Vasudevan R (2017) Dental Plaques: Microbial Community of the Oral Cavity. J Microbiol Exp 4(1): 00100. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2017.04.00100 Copyright: Dental Plaques: Microbial Community of the Oral Cavity ©2017 Vasudevan 3/9 Figure 3: Diagrammatic representation of bacterial occurrences at various phases of plaque maturation [20, 21]. Figure 4: Plaque classification based on location in the oral cavity [22, 23]. Dental biofilms Citation: Vasudevan R (2017) Dental Plaques: Microbial Community of the Oral Cavity. J Microbiol Exp 4(1): 00100. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2017.04.00100 Copyright: Dental Plaques: Microbial Community of the Oral Cavity ©2017 Vasudevan 4/9 Figure 5: Depicts the environmental shifts resulting in the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria [46]. bacteria which favors Tanerella (Gram negative bacteria). In The above figure outlines the various stages involved in the additionsignificance to Tanerella of N-acetylmuramic, the other Gram acid negative produced bacterium by Gram includespositive formation of bacterial biofilms associated with the oral cavity. orphyromonas gingavalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The The figure illustrates the various stages that range from pellicle secondary colonizers have indeed enhanced the diversity of the theseformation plaques followed to resist by theinitial antimicrobial adhesion, agentsmaturation is an andinteresting finally resulting in the dispersal of the mature biofilms. The ability of the exponential growth phase (log phase), the cells are ready to be plaque removal rather than conventional methods. detacheddental biofilms after maturity.[6,12]. After the initial attachment (lag phase) and feature and this has confirmed the use of mechanical means for It is quite obvious from the above sections that the bacterial involving various stages which begins with adsorption on to the are the prime perpetrators and the initial adherence is toothFormation surface succeeded of dental by biofilms passive transferis an intricate of bacteria phenomenon initiated by facilitated by Gram positive bacteria and later on enhances the weak long range force of attraction which is subsequently favored attachment of Gram negative bacteria resulting in a complex by covalent and hydrogen bonds which make the attachment