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Frontiers in Oral Health 2023The dental pellicle is a thin layer of up to several hundred nm in thickness, covering the tooth surface. It is known to protect the teeth from acid attacks through its... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The dental pellicle is a thin layer of up to several hundred nm in thickness, covering the tooth surface. It is known to protect the teeth from acid attacks through its selective permeability and it is involved in the remineralization process of the teeth. It functions also as binding site and source of nutrients for bacteria and conditioning biofilm (foundation) for dental plaque formation.
METHODS
For this updated literature review, the PubMed database was searched for the dental pellicle and its composition.
RESULTS
The dental pellicle has been analyzed in the past years with various state-of-the art analytic techniques such as high-resolution microscopic techniques (e.g., scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy), spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, affinity chromatography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and blotting-techniques (e.g., western blot). It consists of several different amino acids, proteins, and proteolytic protein fragments. Some studies also investigated other compounds of the pellicle, mainly fatty acids, and carbohydrates.
CONCLUSIONS
The dental pellicle is composed mainly of different proteins, but also fatty acids, and carbohydrates. Analysis with state-of-the-art analytical techniques have uncovered mainly acidic proline-rich proteins, amylase, cystatin, immunoglobulins, lysozyme, and mucins as main proteins of the dental pellicle. The pellicle has protective properties for the teeth. Further research is necessary to gain more knowledge about the role of the pellicle in the tooth remineralization process.
PubMed: 37899941
DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1260442 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2023Dental hard tissues from different species are used in dental research, but little is known about their comparability. The aim of this study was to compare the erosive...
Dental hard tissues from different species are used in dental research, but little is known about their comparability. The aim of this study was to compare the erosive behaviour of dental hard tissues (enamel, dentin) obtained from human, bovine and equine teeth. In addition, the protective effect of the pellicle on each hard tissue under erosive conditions was determined. In situ pellicle formation was performed for 30 min on enamel and dentin samples from all species in four subjects. Calcium and phosphate release was assessed during 120 s of HCl incubation on both native and pellicle-covered enamel and dentin samples. SEM and TEM were used to examine surface changes in native enamel and dentin samples after acid incubation and the ultrastructure of the pellicle before and after erosive exposure. In general, bovine enamel and dentin showed the highest degree of erosion after acid exposure compared to human and equine samples. Erosion of human primary enamel tended to be higher than that of permanent teeth, whereas dentin showed the opposite behaviour. SEM showed that eroded equine dentin appeared more irregular than human or bovine dentin. TEM studies showed that primary enamel appeared to be most susceptible to erosion.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Cattle; Horses; Tooth Erosion; Dentin; Calcium; Hydrochloric Acid; Phosphates
PubMed: 37949920
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46759-9 -
Archives of Oral Biology Jun 2024In this in vivo proof-of-concept study, acquired pellicle engineering was implemented to promote alterations in the protein composition of the acquired enamel pellicle...
OBJECTIVE
In this in vivo proof-of-concept study, acquired pellicle engineering was implemented to promote alterations in the protein composition of the acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) and the bacterial composition of the dental biofilm after treatment with Sugarcane cystatin (CaneCPI-5).
DESIGN
After prophylaxis, 10 volunteers rinsed (10 mL, 1 min) with the following solutions: 1) deionized water (HO- negative control or 2) 0.1 mg/mL CaneCPI-5. The AEP and biofilm were formed along 2 or 3 h, respectively. The AEP was collected with electrode filter papers soaked in 3 % citric acid. After protein extraction, samples were analyzed by quantitative shotgun label-free proteomics. The biofilm microbiome was collected with a dental curette. The DNA was extracted, amplified, and analyzed by 16S-rRNA Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
RESULTS
Treatment with CaneCPI-5 increased several proteins with antimicrobial, acid-resistance, affinity for hydroxyapatite, structural and calcium binding properties, such as Cysteine-rich-3 (6-fold-p = 0.03), Cystatin-B (5.5-fold-p < 0.01), Neutrophil-defensin 1 (4.7-fold-p < 0.01), Mucin (3.9-fold-p < 0.01), Immunoglobulin-heavy-constant (3.8-fold-p < 0.01) and Lactotransferrin (2.8-fold-p < 0.01). Microbiome revealed that several commensal bacteria had their abundance increased after rinsing with CaneCPI-5, such as Corynebacterium and Neisseria, while Streptococcus and Prevotella nigrescens were decreased. The results indicate the efficiency of CaneCPI-5 in promoting beneficial changes in the AEP and biofilm, making this phytocystatin a potential target for incorporation into dental products.
CONCLUSION
Cane demonstrated the capability to alter the protein composition of the acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) and the initial colonizers of the biofilm, enhancing the presence of proteins and bacteria crucial for dental protection.
PubMed: 38943859
DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2024.106025 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023(1) Background: In the oral environment, sound enamel and dental restorative materials are immediately covered by a pellicle layer, which enables bacteria to attach. For...
(1) Background: In the oral environment, sound enamel and dental restorative materials are immediately covered by a pellicle layer, which enables bacteria to attach. For the development of new materials with repellent surface functions, information on the formation and maturation of salivary pellicles is crucial. Therefore, the present in situ study aimed to investigate the proteomic profile of salivary pellicles formed on different dental composites. (2) Methods: Light-cured composite and bovine enamel samples (controls) were exposed to the oral cavity for 30, 90, and 120 min. All samples were subjected to optical and mechanical profilometry, as well as SEM surface evaluation. Acquired pellicles and unstimulated whole saliva samples were analyzed by SELDI-TOF-MS. The significance was determined by the generalized estimation equation and the post-hoc bonferroni adjustment. (3) Results: SEM revealed the formation of homogeneous pellicles on all test and control surfaces. Profilometry showed that composite surfaces tend to be of higher roughness compared to enamel. SELDI-TOF-MS detected up to 102 different proteins in the saliva samples and up to 46 proteins in the pellicle. Significant differences among 14 pellicle proteins were found between the composite materials and the controls. (4) Conclusions: Pellicle formation was material- and time-dependent. Proteins differed among the composites and to the control.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Saliva; Proteomics; Dental Pellicle; Proteins; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
PubMed: 37836647
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28196804 -
Swiss Dental Journal Jul 2023Two forms of non-carious dental disorder - erosive tooth hard tissue loss and dental erosion - have been increasingly observed in recent years. Dental erosion is the...
Two forms of non-carious dental disorder - erosive tooth hard tissue loss and dental erosion - have been increasingly observed in recent years. Dental erosion is the chemical loss of dental hard substances caused by exposure to acids not derived from oral bacteria. Mechanical forces from, for example, the tongue, the cheeks or toothbrushing, increase loss of partly-demineralized tooth surfaces and the cumulative loss of dental hard tissue is defined as erosive tooth wear (ETW). Dental hard tissue losses which occur because of very frequent acid exposure, such as through increased vomiting, but without mechanical stress, are also assigned to tooth erosion. Without prior softening, practically no loss of enamel takes place due to abrasion with the modern Western diet. The present work is a continuation of earlier work. A total of 226 beverages, food, stimulants as well as medicines and mouthwashes were tested for their erosive potential on premolars and deciduous molars covered with a human pellicle. The influence of temperature, phosphate and calcium was also investigated in additional experiments. The change in hardness before and after immersion in the respective test substance was measured and the erosive potential was classified. For each test product, we determined pH and other properties which were possibly related to erosive potential. There were considerable and sometimes surprising differences between the tested products. The addition of phosphate did not influence the erosive potential of the liquids, but calcium did. A modified erosion scheme is presented, which incorporates these and other new findings.
Topics: Humans; Tooth Erosion; Mouthwashes; Dental Enamel; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Calcium, Dietary; Phosphates
PubMed: 36861647
DOI: 10.61872/sdj-2023-07-08-01 -
Cells Oct 2023Soft tissue adhesion and sealing around dental and maxillofacial implants, related prosthetic components, and crowns are a clinical imperative to prevent adverse...
Soft tissue adhesion and sealing around dental and maxillofacial implants, related prosthetic components, and crowns are a clinical imperative to prevent adverse outcomes of periodontitis and periimplantitis. Zirconia is often used to fabricate implant components and crowns. Here, we hypothesized that UV treatment of zirconia would induce unique behaviors in fibroblasts that favor the establishment of a soft tissue seal. Human oral fibroblasts were cultured on zirconia specimens to confluency before placing a second zirconia specimen (either untreated or treated with one minute of 172 nm vacuum UV (VUV) light) next to the first specimen separated by a gap of 150 µm. After seven days of culture, fibroblasts only transmigrated onto VUV-treated zirconia, forming a 2.36 mm volume zone and 5.30 mm leading edge. Cells migrating on VUV-treated zirconia were enlarged, with robust formation of multidirectional cytoplastic projections, even on day seven. Fibroblasts were also cultured on horizontally placed and 45° and 60° tilted zirconia specimens, with the latter configurations compromising initial attachment and proliferation. However, VUV treatment of zirconia mitigated the negative impact of tilting, with higher tilt angles increasing the difference in cellular behavior between control and VUV-treated specimens. Fibroblast size, perimeter, and diameter on day seven were greater than on day one exclusively on VUV-treated zirconia. VUV treatment reduced surface elemental carbon and induced superhydrophilicity, confirming the removal of the hydrocarbon pellicle. Similar effects of VUV treatment were observed on glazed zirconia specimens with silica surfaces. One-minute VUV photofunctionalization of zirconia and silica therefore promotes human oral fibroblast attachment and proliferation, especially under challenging culture conditions, and induces specimen-to-specimen transmigration and sustainable photofunctionalization for at least seven days.
Topics: Humans; Surface Properties; Vacuum; Fibroblasts; Silicon Dioxide
PubMed: 37947620
DOI: 10.3390/cells12212542 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity-or wettability-is a key surface characterization metric for titanium used in dental and orthopedic implants. However, the effects of...
Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity-or wettability-is a key surface characterization metric for titanium used in dental and orthopedic implants. However, the effects of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity on biological capability remain uncertain, and the relationships between surface wettability and other surface parameters, such as topography and chemistry, are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify determinants of surface wettability of titanium and establish the reliability and validity of the assessment. Wettability was evaluated as the contact angle of ddHO. The age of titanium specimens significantly affected the contact angle, with acid-etched, microrough titanium surfaces becoming superhydrophilic immediately after surface processing, hydrophobic after 7 days, and hydrorepellent after 90 days. Similar age-related loss of hydrophilicity was also confirmed on sandblasted supra-micron rough surfaces so, regardless of surface topography, titanium surfaces eventually become hydrophobic or hydrorepellent with time. On age-standardized titanium, surface roughness increased the contact angle and hydrophobicity. UV treatment of titanium regenerated the superhydrophilicity regardless of age or surface roughness, with rougher surfaces becoming more superhydrophilic than machined surfaces after UV treatment. Conditioning titanium surfaces by autoclaving increased the hydrophobicity of already-hydrophobic surfaces, whereas conditioning with 70% alcohol and hydrating with water or saline attenuated pre-existing hydrophobicity. Conversely, when titanium surfaces were superhydrophilic like UV-treated ones, autoclaving and alcohol cleaning turned the surfaces hydrorepellent and hydrophobic, respectively. UV treatment recovered hydrophilicity without exception. In conclusion, surface roughness accentuates existing wettability and can either increase or decrease the contact angle. Titanium must be age-standardized when evaluating surface wettability. Surface conditioning techniques significantly but unpredictably affect existing wettability. These implied that titanium wettability is significantly influenced by the hydrocarbon pellicle and other contaminants inevitably accumulated. UV treatment may be an effective strategy to standardize wettability by making all titanium surfaces superhydrophilic, thereby allowing the characterization of individual surface topography and chemistry parameters in future studies.
Topics: Wettability; Titanium; Surface Properties; Reproducibility of Results; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Dental Implants
PubMed: 37834133
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914688 -
Journal of Dentistry May 2024Previous studies on short- and long-term pellicles showed that the enamel pellicle provides partial protection against erosion. The aim of the present study was to...
OBJECTIVES
Previous studies on short- and long-term pellicles showed that the enamel pellicle provides partial protection against erosion. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective properties of clinically relevant pellicles formed within 2 to 24 h. The hypothesis was that factors such as pellicle formation time, intraoral location, and acidic challenge severity would not influence the erosion-protective properties of the pellicle.
METHODS
Six subjects participated in the study. Bovine enamel specimens were prepared and intraorally exposed at buccal or palatal sites for 2, 6, 12, and 24 h to allow pellicle formation, followed by erosion using 0.1 % or 1 % citric acid. Calcium release and surface microhardness were measured, and specimens were analysed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative data were statistically analysed with three-way ANOVA and Tuckey's multiple comparison test (p = 0.05).
RESULTS
Pellicle formation time and intraoral location did not significantly influence the erosion-protective properties of the pellicle, while citric acid concentration significantly affected enamel erosion. The pellicle thickness increased with longer formation times and on buccal sites, but decreased or was entirely removed following treatment with 0.1 % or 1 % citric acid, respectively. The enamel surface exhibited a characteristic erosion pattern.
CONCLUSIONS
This study underscores the importance of investigating pellicle properties within the critical 2- to 24-h timeframe and highlights the significance of pellicle thickness in acid resistance.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
These findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing the protective properties of enamel pellicles and could guide preventive measures in dental practice.
PubMed: 38815730
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105103 -
Acquired pellicle engineering with the association of cystatin and vitamin E against enamel erosion.Journal of Dentistry Nov 2023Evaluate CaneCPI-5 associated with Vitamin E in acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) engineering to prevent dental erosion.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate CaneCPI-5 associated with Vitamin E in acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) engineering to prevent dental erosion.
METHODS
180 human enamel specimens were divided into 12 groups and treated with the following solutions: Cane+VitT and Cane+VitS- CaneCPI-5 + Vit E; Vit+CaneT and Vit+CaneS- Vit E + CaneCPI-5; VitT and VitS- Vit E; CaneT and CaneS- CaneCPI-5; ControlT and ControlS - AmF/NaF/SnCl; WaterT and WaterS- Deionized water. Groups' name followed by "T" were first treated (200 μl; 2 min) and then incubated in human saliva (200 μl; 1 h) to form the AEP. For groups followed by "S", the AEP was formed and then treatment was applied. The erosive challenge consisted of immersion in 1% citric acid (1 min, 1x/day, for 3 days). The percentage of superficial hardness loss (%SHL) and the relative surface reflection intensity (%SRI) were subjected to normality and homogeneity tests, Shapiro-Wilk and Levene tests, respectively. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, Tukey's test and Pearson's correlation (p < 0.005).
RESULTS
For%SHL and%SRI, water controls showed significantly lower protective capacity. Cane+VitT, Cane+VitS, and Vit+CaneS presented the lowest%SHL, and VitT and VitS did not differ from Vit+CaneT, but they were different from the other groups (p = 0.002). The greatest%SRI was found for the Cane+VitT, Vit+CaneT, VitT, Cane+VitS, Vit+CaneS, and VitS groups, which did not significantly differ. CaneT and ControlT, showed similar reflections compared to CaneS and ControlS.
CONCLUSION
CaneCPI-5 and Vitamin E demonstrated a synergistic protective effect against initial erosion.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The results open up new possibilities for preventive approaches against erosion through the acquired pellicle engineering, with the combination of CaneCPI-5 and Vitamin E, which demonstrated to be more effective than commercial stannous mouthwash. Further research is warranted to explore the potential of this combination in diverse clinical settings.
Topics: Humans; Dental Pellicle; Tooth Erosion; Dental Enamel; Tooth Diseases; Cystatins; Water
PubMed: 37633484
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2023.104680 -
Clinical Oral Investigations Oct 2023The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of the salivary pellicle (SP) formed on titanium (Ti) surfaces to modulate the formation of a biofilm composed of...
OBJECTIVES
The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of the salivary pellicle (SP) formed on titanium (Ti) surfaces to modulate the formation of a biofilm composed of Streptococcus gordonii, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ti substrates were incubated for 2 h with a pool of saliva samples obtained from 10 systemically and periodontally healthy subjects. Enamel substrates were included as a biological reference. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy analysis were used to analyze the formation of the salivary pellicle. After the SP formation, the surfaces were incubated for 12 h with a mix of Streptococcus gordonii, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The number of bacterial cells attached to each surface was determined by the XTT assay while bacterial viability was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy using the LIVE/DEAD® BacLight kit.
RESULTS
The SEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of a salivary pellicle formed on the tested surfaces. Regarding the biofilm formation, the presence of the SP decreases the number of the bacterial cells detected in the test surfaces, compared with the uncover substrates. Even more, the SP-covered substrates showed similar bacterial counts in both Ti and enamel surfaces, meaning that the physicochemical differences of the substrates were less determinant than the presence of the SP. While on the SP-uncover substrates, differences in the bacterial adhesion patterns were directly related to the physicochemical nature of the substrates.
CONCLUSIONS
The salivary pellicle was the main modulator in the development of the biofilm consisting of representative oral bacteria on the Ti substrates.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The results of this study provide valuable information on the modulatory effect of the salivary pellicle on biofilm formation; such information allows us to understand better the events involved in the formation of oral biofilms on Ti dental implants.
Topics: Humans; Dental Pellicle; Titanium; Biofilms; Bacterial Adhesion; Streptococcus gordonii; Fusobacterium nucleatum; Surface Properties
PubMed: 37646908
DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05230-9