Characterization and morphological methods for oral biofilm visualization: where are we nowadays?

Area of Science:

• Oral microbiology and biofilm research.
• Dental pathology and disease etiology.
• Microscopy techniques in biological sciences.

Background:

• The oral microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining oral health through symbiotic relationships.
• Oral biofilms, complex microbial communities, are the primary cause of prevalent dental pathologies, including carious and periodontal diseases.
• Understanding biofilm structure and behavior is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze the morphological methods employed for oral biofilm characterization.
• To examine microbial adhesion mechanisms contributing to biofilm formation and stability.
• To evaluate the efficacy of microbicidal molecules against pathological oral biofilms using microscopy.

Main Methods:

• Light microscopy techniques, including stereomicroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), for visualizing biofilm structure and microbial distribution.
• Electron microscopy, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), for high-resolution analysis of biofilm architecture and extracellular matrix.
• Advanced microscopy methods like scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and correlative microscopy for detailed evaluation of antibacterial treatments.

Main Results:

• Microscopy is the principal technique for the morphological characterization of oral biofilms.
• Stereomicroscopy and CLSM provide insights into spatial arrangement, diversity, and development of biofilms.
• SEM and TEM offer nanometric-scale resolution of biofilm architecture, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and adhesion forces.
• Advanced techniques aid in assessing the effectiveness of antibacterial agents in disrupting biofilms.

Conclusions:

• Established microscopic methods are the most common tools for characterizing oral biofilm morphology.
• Further research and protocol development for advanced microscopy are necessary for precise microbiological and pathological insights into oral biofilms.
• Microscopy is indispensable for understanding oral biofilm structure, function, and response to antimicrobial interventions.