IAE
www.EndodonticAcademy.org
MARK E. SHIRTLIFF, PhD
Dept. of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry
Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
University of Maryland, Baltimore
3:00 pm
Saturday, February 1, 2014
International Academy of Endodontics, Annual Meeting
The Fairmont Hotel Dallas, Texas
“Biofilms and Endodontics: A New Approach to Our Disease Model”
A biofilm may be defined as a microbially-derived sessile community characterized by cells that are attached to a substratum, interface, or to each other, are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, and exhibit an altered phenotype with respect to growth, gene expression, and protein production. This layer prevents infection resolution by antimicrobial agents and host phagocytic cells. Once a biofilm is formed on host tissue or within an infected tooth, a chronic infection ensues and often the only treatment option is mechanical removal. Biofilms are particularly associated with dental diseases including caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, endodontic infection, peri-implantitis and osteomyelitis. The presentation includes a discussion of biofilms in relation to these diseases, as well as modern methods of studying and eliminating biofilms.
Attendees will learn:
- Basics of biofilms science and properties
- Mechanisms of studying polymicrobial biofilms.
- Microbial interactions in polymicrobial dental biofilms
- Microbial biofilms in oral disease.