BIOADHESION AND MICROBIAL COLONIZATION OF PERIODONTOPATHOGENIC MICROFLORA ON DENTAL POLYMERS OF DIFFERENT CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Abstract

Modern dentistry employs polymeric materials for the fabrication of prostheses, splints, and temporary restorations. However, microbial contamination of polymer surfaces remains one of the main causes of inflammatory complications and reduced service life of prosthetic appliances. The interaction between dental materials and the oral microflora is a complex process involving adhesion, colonization, and biofilm formation, which directly affects the clinical safety of dental devices.

Of particular importance is the ability of periodontopathogenic bacteria and fungi of the genus Candida to adhere to the surface of prosthetic materials and form stable microbial communities. Such biofilms serve as a source of chronic infection, increasing the risk of periodontal inflammation and candidal lesions of the oral mucosa.Modern thermoplastic dental polymers, including Vetacryl, are being actively introduced into prosthetic dentistry; however, data on the degree of their microbial colonization remain limited. In this regard, the study of adhesive properties and biofilm-forming potential of periodontopathogenic microorganisms and Candida spp. on the surface of dental polymers with different chemical compositions is of particular interest.The aim of this study was to evaluate the bacterial adhesion and colonization activity of pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli) and fungi of the genus Candida on the surface of the dental polymer Vetacryl in comparison with polystyrene samples, as well as to determine the influence of material properties on biofilm formation processes under in vitro conditions.