Editing Dental plaque

{{Infobox medical condition
| Name           = Dental Plaque
| Image          = [File:Dental_plaque_disclosing_agent.jpg]
| Caption        = Dental plaque made visible using a pink [[disclosing agent]].
| Symptoms       = Fuzzy feeling on teeth, [[halitosis]], [[gingivitis]]
| Prevention     = [[Toothbrushing]], [[flossing]], professional [[dental prophylaxis]]
}}

==Definition==
'''Dental plaque''' is a complex, organized '''[[biofilm]]''' that forms naturally on the surfaces of teeth and other hard structures in the mouth (such as [[dental implants]] and [[dentures]]). It consists of a diverse community of [[microorganisms]] embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).

Unlike a simple food debris or "materia alba," dental plaque cannot be removed by rinsing with water; it requires mechanical disruption through oral hygiene practices.

==Composition==
* '''Microorganisms (70-80%)''': Primarily [[bacteria]], with over 700 species potentially present.
* '''Intercellular Matrix (20-30%)''': A "scaffold" composed of:
** '''[[Polysaccharides]]''' (e.g., glucans and fructans produced by ''[[Streptococcus mutans]]'').
** '''Proteins''' (derived from [[saliva]] and bacterial products).
** '''Lipids''' and '''DNA'''.
** '''Inorganic components''': Mainly [[calcium]] and [[phosphorus]].

==Formation Stages==
The development of dental plaque is a dynamic process occurring in four distinct phases:

# '''Acquired Pellicle Formation''': Within minutes of cleaning, a thin layer of salivary [[glycoproteins]] deposits on the [[enamel]].
# '''Initial Colonization''': Gram-positive facultative cocci (e.g., ''Streptococcus sanguinis'') bind to the pellicle via specific adhesins.
# '''Secondary Colonization (Co-aggregation)''': Filamentous bacteria like ''Actinomyces'' and "bridge" organisms like ''[[Fusobacterium nucleatum]]'' allow late-colonizing anaerobes to attach.
# '''Maturation''': The biofilm develops a 3D architecture with nutrient channels and reaches a state of '''[[homeostasis]]'''.

==Classification==
Dental plaque is clinically categorized by its location relative to the [[gingival margin]]:

===Supragingival Plaque===
Located above the gum line. It is predominantly aerobic and, if rich in saccharolytic bacteria, leads to the development of '''[[dental caries]]'''.

===Subgingival Plaque===
Located below the gum line within the [[gingival sulcus]]. It is dominated by anaerobic, proteolytic bacteria (the "[[Red Complex]]") which drive '''[[periodontitis]]'''.

==Pathological Potential==
If plaque is not disrupted, the microbial community undergoes '''[[dysbiosis]]'''.
* '''Acidogenesis''': Bacteria ferment dietary sugars into lactic acid, causing [[demineralization]] of enamel.
* '''Calculus Formation''': Over time, plaque can mineralize into '''[[dental calculus]]''' (tartar), which provides a rough surface for further plaque accumulation.
* '''Inflammation''': Microbial toxins trigger an immune response in the [[periodontium]].

==See Also==
* [[Oral microbiome]]
* [[Oral hygiene]]
* [[Gingivitis]]
* [[Specific Plaque Hypothesis]]

[[Category:Oral Biology]]
[[Category:Preventive Dentistry]]
[[Category:Periodontology]]