Dental caries, a biofilm-mediated multifactorial dynamic disease, is identified as a type of global public health problem. Microbes including commensals and opportunistic cariogenic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutants embedded within an extracellular matrix form a highly organized biofilm 3D structure. Homeostasis of oral biofilm plays a vital role during caries development according to the ecological plaque hypothesis. Under unfavorable conditions such as excessive sugar intake, an excess of acid is produced by biofilm which resulted in an acid-induced selection, promoting the growth of acidogenic and aciduric microbes including opportunistic cariogenic bacteria. The transition from eubiosis to imbalance finally promotes tooth hard tissue destruction. Thus, controlling biofilms is key to controlling caries. Though caries has been studied for decades, the current situation of this disease is not optimistic. From the perspective of biofilm, firstly, there is a lack of in-depth analysis of pathogenic mechanisms. Besides, mature biofilms are mechanically hard to eliminate and much more resistant to antimicrobial agents than bacterioplankton. Moreover, materials that filling of decayed teeth are short of antimicrobial activity which contributes to secondary caries.
There are many issues that need to be studied urgently such as how cariogenic pathogens contribute to pathological niches. What’s the communication mechanism between commensals and opportunistic cariogenic pathogens? How do extracellular matrix components regulate biofilms? Understanding biofilm in the pathogenesis of dental caries more comprehensively and systematically will favor the development of novel and effective strategies to control biofilm to further control caries. The aim of the present Research Topic is to assemble Original Research articles and Reviews addressing the questions on the control of biofilms to control caries.
We welcome submissions on the subtopics below:
•Role of biofilm components in the pathogenesis of dental caries.
•Related interspecies interactions within biofilms.
•New strategies to control biofilm to control caries.
•Novel biofilm models or animal models to investigate caries.
Dental caries, a biofilm-mediated multifactorial dynamic disease, is identified as a type of global public health problem. Microbes including commensals and opportunistic cariogenic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutants embedded within an extracellular matrix form a highly organized biofilm 3D structure. Homeostasis of oral biofilm plays a vital role during caries development according to the ecological plaque hypothesis. Under unfavorable conditions such as excessive sugar intake, an excess of acid is produced by biofilm which resulted in an acid-induced selection, promoting the growth of acidogenic and aciduric microbes including opportunistic cariogenic bacteria. The transition from eubiosis to imbalance finally promotes tooth hard tissue destruction. Thus, controlling biofilms is key to controlling caries. Though caries has been studied for decades, the current situation of this disease is not optimistic. From the perspective of biofilm, firstly, there is a lack of in-depth analysis of pathogenic mechanisms. Besides, mature biofilms are mechanically hard to eliminate and much more resistant to antimicrobial agents than bacterioplankton. Moreover, materials that filling of decayed teeth are short of antimicrobial activity which contributes to secondary caries.
There are many issues that need to be studied urgently such as how cariogenic pathogens contribute to pathological niches. What’s the communication mechanism between commensals and opportunistic cariogenic pathogens? How do extracellular matrix components regulate biofilms? Understanding biofilm in the pathogenesis of dental caries more comprehensively and systematically will favor the development of novel and effective strategies to control biofilm to further control caries. The aim of the present Research Topic is to assemble Original Research articles and Reviews addressing the questions on the control of biofilms to control caries.
We welcome submissions on the subtopics below:
•Role of biofilm components in the pathogenesis of dental caries.
•Related interspecies interactions within biofilms.
•New strategies to control biofilm to control caries.
•Novel biofilm models or animal models to investigate caries.