Plaque

Question 1

What does plaque contain

Answer 1

Living and dead bacteria including extra cellular bacterial products and involves host compounds

Question 2

What is plaque associated with

Answer 2

Hard and soft tissues

Question 3

What is a biofilm

Answer 3

Community of microorganism associated with a surface

Question 4

What are the properties of a typical biofilm

Answer 4

3D structure
Bacterial cells enclosed in extra cellular matrix
Increases habitat range for individual bacteria

Question 5

How can adherence in the oral environment be difficult

Answer 5

Liquid flow
Diffusion
Movement

Question 6

What is the acquired pellicle

Answer 6

The materials which accumulate immediately after a tooth is cleaned

Question 7

What doe th acquired pellicle consist of

Answer 7

Mucins, salivary glycoproteins, mineral and immunoglobins

Question 8

How can a pellicle be removed

Answer 8

Vigour is brushing with abrasive denitrification

Question 9

What does bacteria directly attach to

Answer 9

The pellicle not the enamel

Question 10

What does the enamel pellicle consist of

Answer 10

Acidic proline rich proteins 
Amylase
Lysosomes
Albumin 
Immunoglobins
Glucans

Question 11

What is the accumulation on the pellicle described as

Answer 11

Orderered

Pioneer –> climax

Question 12

What changes can be made to the environment to affect the adhesion of bacteria to the pellicle

Answer 12

Aerobic/anaerobic 
pH 
Nutirents 
New attachment sites
Co-aggregation

Question 13

What property does extra cellular polymers have to have to attach to the pellicle

Answer 13

Adaptive response

Question 14

What are the types of extra cellular polymers

Answer 14

Intracellular polysaccharides
Extra cellular polysaccharides
–> soluble and insoluble
–> glucans and fructans

Question 15

What are adhesins

Answer 15

Molecules in th bacterial surface which are specific to Ligands on the tooth surface
Associated with fimbriae

Question 16

What are lectins

Answer 16

Recognise carbohydrate groups and bind them associated with fimbriae

Question 17

What are fimbriae

Answer 17

Pili like structures
Incorporate adhesins and lectins
Adhesion to enamel/pellicle and other bacteria

Question 18

What is the overall formation pathway for plaque

Answer 18

Contact 
Adhesion 
Growth and metabolic activity
Coaggregation 
Micoro colony formation
Biofilm community 
Climax community

Question 19

What is the main gram +ve constituent of plaque

Answer 19

S oralis

Question 20

What do pioneer species do

Answer 20

Reduce Eh (redox potential) as they are anaerobic

Question 21

What are some surfaces plaque forms on

Answer 21

Smooth tooth surfaces
Inter proximal surfaces
Pits and fissures

Question 22

What are the two types of complexes in dental plaque

Answer 22

Corn cob - s.cocci

Test tube brush - gram -ve bacilli

Question 23

After initial colonisation what are the two types of main plaque formed

Answer 23

Superagingival - influenced by saliva and food, aerobic and variable conditions

Sub gingival - influenced by GCF, anaerobic and constant conditions

Question 24

What is calculus

Answer 24

Calcium and Phosphate ions supersaturated in saliva as crystals

Question 25

What is plaque the general term for

Answer 25

Microbial community found on the tooth surface