Dental biofilms at healthy and inflamed gingival margins.
OBJECTIVE
The increased plaque formation observed in gingival inflammation is not fully understood. Receptor proteins in the dental pellicle might influence bacterial adhesion and subsequent plaque formation. The purpose of the present study was to examine proteins and microorganisms in dental biofilms, at healthy and inflamed gingival margins.


METHODS
To see whether marginal inflammation affects the composition of the pellicle and the early dental plaque, samples were taken from the gingival and incisal parts of teeth in periodontally healthy subjects, both in gingival health and during experimental gingivitis. Pellicle proteins were analysed using gel-electrophoresis, immunoblotting and image analysis. Bacteria were analysed by culturing and the PCR technique.


RESULTS
During gingivitis, the rate of plaque formation increased significantly. The semiquantitative amounts of proteins and the numbers of bacteria varied considerably between individuals and surfaces. The amount of total and individual pellicle proteins and the total numbers of bacteria were, however, increased during gingivitis and the increase in proteins was statistically significant on the incisal parts of tooth surfaces. Compared to a healthy gingiva, reduced numbers for Actinomyces spp. (incisal parts only) and streptococci and increased numbers of periodontopathogens in the 4 h dental biofilms were seen at the inflamed gingiva.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased gingival crevicular fluid flow during gingivitis affects pellicle formation and increased plasma proteins in the pellicle may modify bacterial attachment and early dental plaque composition.
Rüdiger
S G
SG
Department of Oral Microbiology, Institute of Odontology, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.
Carlén
A
A
Meurman
J H
JH
Kari
K
K
Olsson
J
J
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000328:Adult; D000373:Agglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018441:Biofilms; D044622:Dental Pellicle; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D018720:Prevotella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011392:Proline / Q000032:analysis; D055232:Proline-Rich Protein Domains; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000373:Agglutinins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D010455:Peptides; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D005340:Fibrinogen; D011392:Proline; D000681:Amylases