Microbiology of Dental Plaque

Dr. Susan Kinder Haake

California Continuing Education Credits: 3 units

PIC HOMEPAGE

I. Dental Plaque: Structural, Microbiological and Developmental Characteristics
II. Dental Plaque: Relationship to Dental Diseases
III. Dental Plaque: Recent Reclassification of Periodontal Microorganisms


III. Dental Plaque: Recent Reclassification of Periodontal Microorganisms

The tremendous advances made in the 1970's in the cultivation and growth in vitro of the oral anaerobic microorganisms led to a period during which there were many taxonomic refinements made. The practical result of this is that the bacteria stayed the same, but the names changed! This causes obvious problems for the interested reader of the literature in periodontal microbiology. The table presented below reviews the recent reclassifications of a number of plaque microorganisms that are important in disease development, and may serve as a useful guide for those interested.

Recent Reclassifications of Periodontal Microorganisms
August 1993
Previous ClassificationNew ClassificationReference
Bacteroides gingivalis Porphyromonas gingivalis Shah and Collins,1988
Bacteroides endodontalisPorphyromonas
endodontalis
Shah and Collins, 1988
Bacteroides intermedius Prevotella intermedia Shah and Collins, 1990
Bacteroides melaninogenicusPrevotella melaninogenicaShah and Collins, 1990
Bacteroides denticolaPrevotella denticolaShah and Collins, 1990
Bacteroides loescheiiPrevotella loescheiiShah and Collins, 1990
Wolinella recta Campylobacter rectus Vandamme, et al., 1991
Wolinella curvaCamplyobacter curvusVandamme, et al., 1991


References:

1. Shah HN, Collins DM. Prevotella, a new genus to include Bacteroides melaninogenicus and related species formally classified in the genus Bacteroides. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 1990;40(2):205208.

2. Shah HN, Collins DM. Proposal for reclassification of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Bacteroides gingivalis, and Bacteroides endodontalis in a new genus, Porphyromonas. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 1988;38(1):128-131.

3. Vandamme P, Falsen E, Rossau R, et al. Revision of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Wolinella taxonomy: Emendation of generic descriptions and proposal of Arcobacter gen. nov. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 1991 ;41 (1):88-103.

4. Listgarten, M.A. Structure of the Microbial Flora Associated with Periodontal Health and Disease in Man: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study. Journal of Periodontology 1976, 47:1-18

5. Listgarten, M. A., Mayo, H.E., Tremblay, R. Development of Dental Plaque on Epoxy Resin Crowns in Man: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study. Journal of Periodontology 1975, 46:10-26

6. Mergenhagen, S.E., Sandberg, A.L., et al. Molecular Basis of Bacterial Adhesion in the Oral Cavity. Reviews of Infectious Diseases; 1987, 9 (suppl.5): 5467-5474.

7. Loesche, W.J. Chemotherapy of Dental Plaque Infections. Oral Sciences Review 1976, Vol. 9, pp 65-107.

8. Socransky, S.S., Haffajee, A.D. The Bacterial Etiology of Destructive Periodontal Disease: Current Concepts. Journal of Periodontology 1992, 63:322-331

9. Slots, J. Subgingival Microflora and Periodontal Disease: Review Article. Journal of Clinical Periodontology: 1979:6: 351-382.


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