About the authors
Preface

1 Introduction to oral microbiology

Commensals and pathogens

Oral diseases

2 In the beginning

The first microbes

Microbial basis of infectious disease

Miller and the chemoparasitic theory of caries

Oral and dental research

3 Caries as an infectious disease

Dental caries as a transmissible disease

Streptococcus mutans

Mutans group streptococci

Link between S. mutans and dental caries

Immunity to caries

4 General properties of saliva

Saliva production

Protective role of saliva

Salivary pellicle

Saliva as a nutrient

5 Salivary mucins and agglutinins

Composition of mucins

Properties of mucins

Bacterial agglutination

6 Secretory Immunoglobulin A

Production of S-IgA

Functions of S-IgA

Inactivation of salivary defenses

Development of S-IgA

The window of infectivity

Selective IgA deficiency

7 Anti-microbial properties of saliva

Anti-microbial components in saliva

8 Innate defences

Anti-microbial peptides (AMPs)

Human AMPs

9 Microbes in the oral cavity

Primary colonizers

Beneficial effects of bacterial colonizers

Ecological plaque hypothesis

Ecology and disease

10 Molecular microbial taxonomy

Molecular taxonomy

Discontinuous gradient gel electrophoresis

DNA chips

11 Systems approaches to oral microbiology

Transcriptomics

Proteomics

Gene ontology

Post-translational networks

Tiled arrays

12 Oral streptococci

The genus Streptococcus

Viridans streptococci

Lancefield grouping

Relatedness and pathogenicity of streptococci

13 Microbial adherence

Adherence

Long-range adherence

Specific adhesion

Oral bacterial adhesins and receptors

14 Complex communities

Inter-microbial reactions

Co-adhesion

Metabolic associations

Antagonism

15 Biofilms

Biofilm development

Microbial recognition of surfaces and interbacterial communication

The biofilm matrix, resilience and resistance

16 Bacterial polysaccharides

Extracellular polysaccharide production

Glycosyltransferases and fructosyltransferases

Glucan binding proteins

EPS produced by oral Gram-negatives

17 Microbiology of caries

Structure of teeth

Dental caries

Types of dental caries

Important bacteria in caries

Emerging and polymicrobial pathogens

18 Virulence factors of S. mutans

Initial attachment to tooth surfaces

Polysaccharide production

Acid production

Acid tolerance

Biofilm adaptation

19 Host and environmental factors in caries

Host factors

Dietary factors

Caries risk assessment

20 Fluoride

Modes of action of fluoride

Strategies for fluoride delivery

Anti-microbial effects of fluoride

Enhancing anti-microbial effects

21 Anti-caries strategies

Inhibitors

Probiotics

Immunization

Vaccination

22 Periodontal diseases

Classification of periodontal diseases

Role of plaque bacteria in periodontal diseases

Role of host factors in periodontal diseases

23 Microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases

Gingivitis

Chronic periodontitis

Localized aggressive periodontitis

Generalized aggressive periodontitis

Color-coded complexes

P. gingivalis, a consensus pathogen

A. actinomycetemcomitans, a pathogen in LAP

Culture independent bacterial detection

24 Colonization by periodontal bacteria

Adhesion

Periodontal bacterial adhesins

Intracellular invasion

Mechanisms of invasion

Host responses to intracellular bacteria

25 Virulence factors of periodontal bacteria

Toxins

Proteolytic enzymes

Bacterial components that impact alveolar bone

Other toxic products

26 The immune response and periodontal bacteria

Importance of neutrophils

Innate immune sensing of periodontal bacteria

Tissue destruction and bone loss

Genetic factors associated with periodontal disease

27 Relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic health

Pathogenic mechanisms general principles

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Adverse pregnancy outcomes

Pulmonary infections

Diabetes

Osteoporosis

28 Implants and titanium

Osseo-integration

Implant structure

Peri-implantitis

Bacteria associated with peri-implantitis

Asepsis and treatment

29 Endodontic infections

Dentinal tubules

Bacterial invasion of dentin

Microbiota of endodontic infections

Symptomatic versus asymptomatic

Treatment

30 Host factors in endodontic infections

Pulpal infections

Periapical abscesses

Repair and angiogenesis

Resistant bacteria

31 Infective endocarditis

Bacteria in IE

Mechanism of vegetation formation

Bacterial virulence factors

Antibiotics in IE

32 Oral mucosal, bone and systemic infections

Mucosal infections

Submucosal and bone infections

Oral manifestations of systemic infections

Systemic manifestations of oral infections

33 Candida albicans and fungal infections

C. albicans infections

Denture stomatitis

Angular cheilitis

Gingivitis and periodontal disease

Prosthetic implants

Biofilms and antifungal drugs

34 Oral virology I, herpes, papillomavirus and parvovirus

Herpes viruses

Papillomaviruses

Parvoviruses

35 Oral virology II, hepatitis and HIV

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Hepatitis D virus (HDV, delta agent)

Other hepatitis viruses

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

36 Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics in dentistry

Resistance to anti-microbial agents

Transfer of anti-microbial resistance

Curtailing anti-microbial resistance

37 Sterilization

Heat

Radiation

Chemicals

38 Disinfection

Physical

Chemical

39 Infection control

Prions

Dental unit water lines (DUWL)

40 Bioterrorism

Anthrax

Botulism

Smallpox

Salmonella

Biological weapons convention

Index