introduction

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Tooth decay and periodontal disease are microbial diseases. As a basis for both diseases, a biofilm develops on the tooth surface or on the gum line. This biofilm forms immediately after teeth cleaning. First, the pellicle, which consists mainly of salivary proteins, forms a protective layer on the tooth surface. In addition to the protection it offers the teeth, it also provides binding sites for microbial attachment. The attachment is a highly specific process and only a few bacteria can bind to the pellicle. The earliest colonists are mainly streptococci of the Mitis group: Streptococcus mitis , Streptococcus gordonii , Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus sanguinis. These interact in different ways with the later colonizers such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , Fusobacterium nucleatum , Porphyromonas gingivalis , Prevotella spp. and Treponema spp. Also, Streptococcus mutans , an important bacterium in the development of caries, can bind to Mitis streptococci and interact.

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Question

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Can Zinc Carbonate Hydroxyapatite Inhibit Biofilm Formation in a Polymicrobial Community?

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material and methods

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For this study, in vitro biofilms of bacteria of the Mitis group and S. mutans were produced. These biofilms were mixed with various concentrations of hydroxyapatite and the inhibitory effects were determined by means of the optical density (OD). The biofilms were produced in artificial saliva and with the addition of sufficient nutrient sources. Three different concentrations of zinc carbonate hydroxyapatite were tested: 0.25 mg / mL, 0.5 mg / mL and 1 mg / mL.