Receptor activator of nuclear factor-B (RANKL)-

Photodynamic therapy may be a useful approach in the treatment of dental plaque-related diseases.

Subjects with uncontrolled type-2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis presented significant dissimilarities in subgingival biodiversity compared with nondiabetic subjects.

Multiple mechanisms may be responsible for the association of smoking and inflammation, and the identification of potential therapeutic targets should guide future research.

In natural ecosystems, micro-organisms grow preferentially attached to surfaces, forming matrix-enclosed biofilms. The aim of this study was to determine photodestruction levels in biofilms after subjecting them to photodynamic therapy. Biofilms of Streptococcus mutans, S. sobrinus, and S. sanguinis were grown on enamel slabs for 3, 5 or 7 d. Both the number of viable micro-organisms and the concentration of water-insoluble polysaccharides were analysed, and mineral loss (DeltaZ) analyses were performed on the enamel slabs. The antimicrobial potential of toluidine blue O (0.1 mg ml(-1)), associated with 85.7 J cm(-2) of a light-emission diode, was evaluated on the viability of 5-d biofilms. Both the number of micro-organisms and the concentration of water-insoluble polysaccharide increased with the age of the biofilms. A significant reduction ( approximately 95%) in viability was observed for S. mutans and S. sobrinus biofilms following photosensitization, with a > 99.9% reduction in the viability of S. sanguinis biofilms. In conclusion, a biofilm model was shown to be suitable for studying changes in bacterial numbers and enamel mineralization and for demonstrating the potential value of photosensitization in the control of in vitro biofilms.