A three-species biofilm model for the evaluation of enamel and dentin demineralization |
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Authors: | Yuri Wanderley Cavalcanti Martinna Mendonça Bertolini Wander José da Silva Altair Antoninha Del-Bel-Cury Livia Maria Andaló Tenuta |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil;2. Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil |
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Abstract: | Although Streptococcus mutans biofilms have been useful for evaluating the cariogenic potential of dietary carbohydrates and the effects of fluoride on dental demineralization, a more appropriate biofilm should be developed to demonstrate the influence of other oral bacteria on cariogenic biofilms. This study describes the development and validation of a three-species biofilm model comprising Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces naeslundii, and Streptococcus gordonii for the evaluation of enamel and dentin demineralization after cariogenic challenges and fluoride exposure. Single- or three-species biofilms were developed on dental substrata for 96?h, and biofilms were exposed to feast and famine episodes. The three-species biofilm model produced a large biomass, mostly comprising S. mutans (41%) and S. gordonii (44%), and produced significant demineralization in the dental substrata, although enamel demineralization was decreased by fluoride treatment. The findings indicate that the three-species biofilm model may be useful for evaluating the cariogenic potential of dietary carbohydrates other than sucrose and determining the effects of fluoride on dental substrata. |
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Keywords: | demineralization dental biofilm dental caries fluoride starch sucrose |
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