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Comparison of cell sediment and surface grown "test plaque" using scanning electron microscopy
S M McCormack1, C M Maran, K M Scott-Anne
1Department of Oral Sciences, Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, New York 14620, USA.
Scanning Microscopy
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Cell sediment plaque, used in caries models, shows similar bacterial morphology and glucan production to surface-grown plaque. Its uniform cell distribution makes it more suitable for intraoral caries research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Dental Research
- Caries Modeling
Background:
- Intraoral caries models are crucial for studying dental caries.
- Standardized bacterial plaque formation is essential for reliable model outcomes.
- Previous models utilized surface-grown plaque, which can exhibit variable cell distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the characteristics of cell sediment (CS) plaque with surface-grown (SG) plaque.
- To evaluate their suitability for short-term intraoral caries models.
- To determine if CS plaque offers advantages in standardization.
Main Methods:
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for morphological analysis.
- Bacterial cultures of *S. mutans* and *S. sobrinus* were grown with sucrose or glucose.
- CS plaque was prepared by centrifugation; SG plaque was grown on enamel surfaces.
Main Results:
- SEM revealed similar cell morphology, integrity, and glucan-like material in both CS and SG plaques.
- SG plaque exhibited highly variable cell distribution.
- CS plaque demonstrated a more uniform distribution of bacterial cells.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial cells in CS plaque are morphologically and functionally comparable to those in SG plaque.
- The uniform cell distribution of CS plaque offers superior standardization for intraoral caries models.
- CS plaque is a more appropriate and reliable option for intraoral caries model studies.