Application of a Novel Tongue Resin Replication System for in vitro Biofilm Studies

Aims: Biofilms present a strategy for microorganisms to survive and resist adverse conditions. In order to further our understanding of this resistance mechanism, it is of much importance to develop new methodologies in order to assess such biofilm activities. One of the most defined biofilms is dental plaque. However, the oral cavity contains a different class of biofilm, the precise structural nature of which is dependent on its site of development. Indeed, tongue-coated biofilms have remained a focus for in vitro studies, especially since they represent the major source of oral malodor. The aim of this research was to investigate the growth of a biofilm on a tongue replication constructed from a resin material, and its use in further experimental investigations.

Methods: The model used for this study involved an adapted CDC biofilm reactor in order to achieve this; Staphylococcus aureus was used as the test organism.

Results: Biofilm culturing techniques employed demonstrated a positive growth from the microbes retrieved from the tongue-impressed resin material. Moreover, results acquired confirmed that the resin-based tongue replication harbored significantly greater levels of S. aureus than those of unimpressed resin, plastic and stainless steel controls.

Conclusions: Therefore, this study provides evidence that the employment of a CDC biofilm reactor in combination with a resin tongue device creates an oral biofilm model which provides valuable information regarding our understanding of how the roughness of the dorsal lingual surface affects microbial populations in patients suffering from oral malodor.