title: Epithelial cells associated with the development of dental plaque.
abstract: Transmission and scanning electron microscopy were used to study desquamated epithelial cells in the developing and mature dental plaque. Epithelial cells were found attached to enamel as early as one hour after clean enamel cylinders were placed in the mouth, and they were seen in great numbers after two days. These cells generally had bacteria attached to their surfaces. Epithelial cells adsorbed to the surface of the enamel appeared to alter their morphology, and mineralization of these structures was also observed. Desquamated epithelial cells could play a role in the initial bacterial colonization of tooth enamel since it is known that bacteria selectively adsorb onto their surfaces. Hydroxyapatite may affect the morphologic alteration of epithelial cells adsorbed to tooth enamel. From the observation of developing and mature plaque samples, it seems that certain suprasurface pelliclelike structures might be epithelial cells.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology; D002648:Child; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans