• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2007

The periodontal diseases and dental caries are major infectious diseases in oral cavity. Many of the preventive and therapeutic dental products contain the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components. But some of these antimicrobial have weak points such as coloration, burning sensation and insolubility in water. We have screened the therapeutic herbal extracts of the Plant Extract Bank for the antimicrobial activity on the major dental pathogens by growth inhibition assay. For the Porphyromonas gingivalis, 8 herbal extracts had an antimicrobial activity, 11 herbal extracts for the Prevotella intermedia, 43 herbal extracts for the Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans and 61 herbal extracts for the Streptococcus mutans. Among these extracts, 6 herbal extracts had an antimicrobial activity for more than 3 species of dental pathogens. These extracts are Araliae Cordatae Radix, Crassirhizomae Rhizoma, Mori Radicis Cortex, Psoraleae Semen, Pini Ramulus and Sieges- beckiae Herba. All of effective extracts were CA group, ethanol extracts. Among these 6 herbal extracts, only Crassirhizomae is known to have a antibacterial effects. Therefore these herbal extracts have a possibility to be a candidate for a major antibacterial components in dental products.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.84-96
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• 2024

Background: Recent studies have elucidated the quorum-sensing mechanisms, biofilm formation, inter-pathogen interactions, and genes related to oral pathogens. This review aims to explore the recent expansion of drug targets against oral pathogens and summarize the current research on novel antibiotic substances derived from marine organisms that target oral pathogens. Methods: A comprehensive literature review summarized the novel mechanisms pertaining to quorum-sensing signal transmission systems, biofilm formation, and metabolite exchange in oral pathogens. The amino acid sequences of the 16 proteins identified as potential drug targets were systematically classified and compared across various oral microorganisms. Results: Through a literature review, we identified nine studies researching quorum sensing signaling inhibitors targeting oral pathogens. A comparison of the amino acid sequences of 16 potential drug targets in oral microorganisms revealed significant differences between oral pathogens and beneficial oral symbiotic microorganisms. These findings imply that it is possible to design drugs that can bind more selectively to oral pathogens. Conclusion: By summarizing the results of recent research on the signaling mechanisms that cause pathogenicity, new drug targets against oral pathogens were proposed. Additionally, the current status of developing new antibiotics for oral pathogens using recently developed quorum sensing inhibitors and natural products derived from marine organisms was introduced. Consequently, marine natural products can be used to develop drugs targeting new proteins in oral pathogens.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.155-168
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to examine oral pathogen distribution among elderly with dementia in a care facility to understand the importance of preventively managing oral diseases in terms of preventively managing senile diseases. Methods: From 11th August 2015 to 11th October 2015, gingival crevicular fluid was collected from 130 subjects consisting of demented/non-demented elderly people aged above 65 in care facilities located in the regions of Busan/Gyeonggnam. Based on collected data, real-time PCR analysis on oral pathogen was conducted. Results: The demented elderly group consisting of female patients aged from 0 to 79 indicated higher ratios of T. denticola in comparison to the non-demented elderly group, and the demented elderly group consisting of female patients aged above 80 indicated a high ratio of S. mutans. It was confirmed that P. gingivalis and T. forsythensis categorized under the red complex are correlated, and that bacterial species categorized under the orange complex and bacterial species categorized under the red complex are correlated. Conclusions: Because eldery people with demntia are exposed to periodontal disease and dental caries, their oral environments are more vulnerable. In order to improve such environments, it is necessary to provide care facility personnel with an opportunity to receive education to become aware of the importance of oral health, and it is also necessary to compulsorily assign dental hygienists to care facilities so that they can serve as personnel specializing in oral health management.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.261-271
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• 2018

Purpose: Few studies have examined periodontal pathogens from saliva samples in periodontally healthy young adults. The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence of periodontopathic bacteria and to quantify periodontal pathogens in saliva samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in periodontally healthy Korean young adults under 35 years of age. Methods: Nine major periodontal pathogens were analyzed by real-time PCR in saliva from 94 periodontally healthy young adults. Quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Eikenella corrodens was performed by DNA copy number measurement. Results: F. nucleatum and E. corrodens were detected in all subjects; the numbers of positive samples were 87 (92.6%), 91 (96.8%), and 90 (95.7%) for P. gingivalis, P. anaerobius, and C. rectus, respectively. Other pathogens were also detected in periodontally healthy subjects. Analysis of DNA copy numbers revealed that the most abundant periodontal pathogen was F. nucleatum, which was significantly more prevalent than all other bacteria (P<0.001), followed by P. anaerobius, P. gingivalis, E. corrodens, C. rectus, and T. denticola. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of each bacterium between men and women. The DNA copy number of total bacteria was significantly higher in men than in women. Conclusions: Major periodontal pathogens were prevalent in the saliva of periodontally healthy Korean young adults. Therefore, we suggest that the development of periodontal disease should not be overlooked in periodontally healthy young people, as it can arise due to periodontal pathogen imbalance and host susceptibility.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.316-328
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and abundance of 9 representative periodontal pathogens in the saliva samples of periodontally healthy subjects (PH) and patients with periodontitis who underwent supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). The age-specific distribution of these pathogens in periodontally healthy individuals was also analyzed. Methods: One hundred subjects (aged >35 years) were recruited (50 each in the PH and SPT groups) between August 2016 and April 2019. The prevalence and abundance of periodontal pathogens in the PH group were compared with those in periodontally healthy young subjects (94 subjects; aged <35 years), who were included in our previous study. DNA copy numbers of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Tannerella forsythia (Tf), Treponema denticola (Td), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Campylobacter rectus (Cr), Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (Pa), and Eikenella corrodens (Ec) were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The detection frequencies of all pathogens, except Aa, were high in the PH and SPT groups. The ranking order of pathogen DNA copy numbers was similar in both groups. In both groups, Fn had the highest abundance, Aa had the lowest abundance. Additionally, Td was significantly more abundant in men than in women in both groups (P<0.05). Compared with the PH group, the SPT group exhibited significantly lower total bacteria and Fn abundance and higher Pg abundance (P<0.05). The age-specific pathogen distribution analysis revealed a significantly low Aa abundance and high Tf and Cr abundance in the PH group. Conclusions: The clinical parameters and microbial profiles were similar between the SPT and PH groups. However, patients with periodontitis require supportive care to prevent recurrence. As the abundance of some bacteria varied with age, future studies must elucidate the correlation between age-related physiological changes and periodontal bacterial composition.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.99-104
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• 2021

Associations between periodontal infection and cardiovascular disease have been documented. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a well-established periodontal pathogen, and tissue factor (TF) is a key initiator of the coagulation cascade. In this context, P. gingivalis has been reported to enhance TF expression in human endothelial cells. The present study investigated the underlying mechanisms of TF induction by P. gingivalis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. P. gingivalis increased TF expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Not only live bacteria but also glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria increased TF expression to the same extent. However, sonicates of P. gingivalis did not induce TF expression. Cytochalasin D and SMIFH2, which are inhibitors of actin polymerization and actin nucleation, respectively, inhibited the TF expression induced by P. gingivalis. Finally, TF production was decreased or increased in the presence of various signaling inhibitors, including mitogen-activated protein kinases. These results suggest that P. gingivalis induces endothelial TF expression by a bacterial internalization-dependent mechanism and through diverse signal transduction mechanisms.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.99-111
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the changes of the amount of P. gingivalis in saliva by professional preventive treatment of periodontal disease by dental hygienists. Methods: A total of 109 subjects participated in this study with informed consent. The control group (38 subjects) performed oral hygiene management individually. The periodontal treatment group (35 subjects) underwent root planning once every 3 weeks for a total of 4 times. The professional periodontal prevention group (36 subjects) underwent interdental cleaning and professional tooth brushing once every 3 weeks for a total of 4 times. Paired T test and analysis of variance were performed to compare the difference among the groups in the amount of P. gingivalis. Results: The copies of P. gingivalis in the professional periodontal prevention group decreased from 773.62±1,198.09 to 241.40±430.40 after treatment significantly. The control group decreased from 525.22±582.54 to 244.29±385.88 after treatment. The periodontal treatment group showed insignificant change of P. gingivalis. Conclusions: This study showed the professional periodontal prevention was more effective than periodontal treatment in decrease of P. gingivalis.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.783-794
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• 2014

Since the introduction of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in the field of the dentistry, numerous applications have been investigated. Especially with its advantages over existing vacuum plasma in terms of portability, low cost, and non-thermal damage, it can be directly applied in the oral cavity, giving number of potentials for dental application. First, possible application of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in the field of dentistry is relation to dental caries and periodontal diseases. Teeth and alveolar bones are one of the strongest bony structures in our body, but it cannot be regenerated when they are damaged by dental caries or periodontal disease. Hence many studies to prevent such diseases have been carried out, though no perfect solution has been found yet. With recent studies of modifying surfaces through non-thermal atmospheric pressure application that can prevent attachment of bacteria, or studies on bactericidal effects of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma can be applied here to prevent oral pathogen and 'biofilm' attachment to the surface of teeth or directly eliminate the dental caries/periodontal disease causing germs. Secondly, non-thermal atmospheric pressure application will be useful on the surface of dental implant. It is well known that the success of dental implant surgery depends on the process known as 'osseointegration' that result from osteoblast attachment, proliferation and differentiation. As the application of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on the surface of dental implant just before its introduction by the chair-side of dental surgery. Despite its long history, the generation of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma has been greatly increased with its application in dentistry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.942-945
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• 2010

The ability of the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans to undergo the morphological transition from a single yeast form to pseudohyphal and hyphal forms in response to various conditions is known to be important for its virulence. Many studies have shown the pharmacological effects of resveratrol, a phytoalexin polyphenolic compound. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of resveratrol against C. albicans. Both yeast-form and mycelial growth of C. albicans were inhibited by resveratrol. In addition, normal filamentation of C. albicans was affected and yeast-to-hypha transition under serum-, pH-, and nutrient-induced hyphal growth conditions was impaired by resveratrol.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.183-193
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• 2013

The characteristics of dental treatment makes the dental staff frequently contact with patient directly. Also the daily use of high-handpieces, sharp instruments, and needles often causes bleeding on oral cavity. Therefore, the risk of cross transmission grows up. The pathogen from dental practice could spread on not only the practice itself but also the dental laboratory with contaminated impressions and prosthesis. Dental clinic staffs (dentists, dental hygienists and dental technicians) should recognize all the patients have a possibility of cross contamination, and try to prevent the transmission of infection by proper infection control. In this study, we review the articles about disinfection methods and chemical infection agents used for dental impressions, and try to figure out the suitable and effective infection control system of dental impressions.