Detection of Biofilm Production for Oral Bacterial Isolates and It’s Impact on Dental Caries Occurance

Background and aims: Microorganisms are known to be involved in the formation of biofilms. These biofilms are often seen in the oral cavity, tooth surfaces, prosthesis surfaces, attached oral mucosa, dental implants, etc. These are capable of causing dental caries or gingivitis, and most of them are also known to possess a higher ability to cause dental caries than non-biofilm-producing bacteria. This study was conducted to detect the biofilm formation in bacterial isolates from the oral cavity of patients attaining dental clinics in the Faculty of Dentistry, Sana’a University. In addition, the study examined the association between DMFT, decay, missing teeth due to caries, and filled teeth in the permanent teeth and the degree of bacteria ability to produce biofilm. Materials and Methods: Biofilm production was performed on 294 oral bacteria isolates from 100 patients who visited dental clinics run by Sana'a University's Faculty of Dentistry and private dental clinics. Biofilm-forming oral bacteria were detected by the tissue culture plate (TCA) method. The impact of biofilm production was correlated with the DMFT index of the tested patients. Results: Out of 294 isolates, biofilm formation was seen in 285 isolates (96. 9%) by the TCP method. 21. 4% of the iosolates showed a weak ability to produce biofilms, 72. 4% showed moderate positivity, and only 3. 1% showed strong positivity for biofilm production. Most S. aureus strains showed moderate and strong biofilm production (93. 8% and 4. 2%, respectively) ; S. mutans had 86. 6% of strains with moderate biofilm production and 1. 2% with strong biofilm production, while other streptococci had less biofilm production capacity. The DMFT index for the Yemeni patients included in the study was 5. 9±2. 4; there was a higher mean±SD (6. 2±1. 9) of DMFT for weak biofilm-producing bacteria with a difference equal to 3. 5, 95% CI=1. 4-4. 2 (p=0. 0001) ; for moderate biofilm-producing bacteria (6. 9±2. 5, difference=3. 5, 95% CI=1. 8-5. 2, p=0. 0001) ; and for strong-producing biofilms (mean±SD=6. 2±2. 9, p=0. 03). Conclusion: In conclusion, a higher DMFT was observed in biofilm producers than in non-biofilm producers. The prime biofilm producers were S. aureus, S. mutans, and E. coli. Peer Review History: Received 6 December 2023; Revised 30 January 2024; Accepted 26 February; Available online 15 March 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asiaₐbdullah65@yahoo. com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6. 0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7. 0/10 Reviewers: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, ahmad. najib@umi. ac. id Dr. Mohsen Ali Al-Hamzi, Thamar University, Factuality of Dentistry, Yemen. mohsenalhamzi@gmail. com