Medical and Dental Biofilms

Insight into contemporary issues with medical and dental biofilms are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Detailed coverage of this topic is found in the chapter on health and medicine.

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Courtesy, P. Dirckx, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State Univsersity

Figure 1. Medical and Dental Biofilms

Biofilm growth on human tissue, dental surfaces, and prosthetic implants is a rapidly growing concern to the medical industry. Oral biofilms promote tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease. Biofilms may develop on catheter surfaces as well as the surfaces of prosthetic implants resulting in infection. Note that bacterial cells which detach from these biofilms can enter the circulatory system an be transported through the human body.

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Figure 2. Scanning Electron Micrograph and elbow prosthesis

Scanning Electron Micrograph showing biofilm growing on an elbow prosthesis removed from a patient.

Concerns

As we see again the same type of biofilm research questions are of concern to the medical industry namely:

• How to detect, quantify, identify and control bacterial cells on medical dental surfaces?
• What is the significance of biofilms to periodontal disease, dental caries, prosthetic implants and chronic wound care?