Читать книгу Basic Guide to Oral Health Education and Promotion - Alison Chapman - Страница 67

Dental plaque is a type of biofilm, and the concept of a biofilm is of huge importance not only to dentistry, but also to the wider medical world and many sectors of industry. Since the 1990s, there has been a huge amount of research into biofilms, which reflects our growing understanding of their importance.

A biofilm, in simple terms, is a thin layer of bacteria that adheres to a surface. Over 95% of bacteria in nature exist in a biofilm state as opposed to living independently, and over 500 species of bacteria have been identified in oral plaque biofilms. Contact lenses, rocks in rivers and aspirator tubing in the dental surgery are all examples of surfaces colonised by biofilms.

Within a biofilm, bacteria are not just sitting alongside one another passively; they are communicating, interacting, and gaining benefits from one another – acting as a team. This is what makes a biofilm so virulent, resilient, and difficult to manage.