Dental Plaque as a Biofilm : Dental Plaque through a new kaleidoscope

Dental plaque was found to be an extremely well structured entity with temporal or spatial heterogeneity enabling fastidious organisms to survive in apparently hostile or incompatible environments.The presence of certain organisms played a major role, in the presence of certain other and the absence of few other species. Given that the inter microbial communication had a huge role to play in the adherence, sustenance and multiplication of the species and also in bestowing certain characteristics such as anti-septic and anti- microbial resistance and also better ability to cope with the environmental stress due to inter bacterial synergism as well as altered gene expression,dental plaque can now be assigned a new status of that of a BIOFILM.The acceptance of plaque as a biofilm, enables us to understand the etiopathogenesis and formulate newer strategies to combat the periodontal disease. Thus the emerging concept has pushed the scientific community to reconsider the entire periodontal disease process from etiology to progression and treatment or prevention through this new kaleidoscope that views DENTAL PLAQUE AS A BIOFILM.