title: The influence of dental plaques on the microvasculature of the oral mucous membrane.
abstract: This investigation was designed to explore the effect of plaque, obtained at different stages of accumulation, on the microvasculature of the hamster cheek pouch. Five groups of three dental students followed an oral hygiene abstinence program for 22 days. At day 2, 9, and 22, plaque was sampled from different anterior teeth, pooled and suspended in a reduced diluting fluid. Each of the three pooled plaque suspensions was then introduced into the right or left cheek pouche of five hamsters. Microvascular changes in the pouches were then observed and recorded photomicrographically until vascular reconstitution occurred. Plaque and gingival indices were taken, and the microbial composition of the plaque was determined according to gram-staining characteristics and morphology. The results indicate that the microvascular response was not a function of age and composition of plaque. This finding is based on the observation that 2-, 9-, and 22-day-old plaque induced similar microvascular damage which required approximately the same recovery period of 9 days to reconsitute normal microvascular function.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002452:Cell Count; D002610:Cheek; D006224:Cricetinae; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004106:Dilatation / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012421:Rupture / Q000209:etiology; D014172:Transillumination; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology