Imaging of oral biofilms

Oral biofilm is a primary determinant of oral health. Because clinical mapping of oral biofilm has been primarily restricted to macroscopic plaque staining techniques, additional means of assessing and quantifying oral biofilm in site at high levels of resolution are currently under development. This study addresses emerging optical imaging modalities for evaluating in vivo oral biofilm noninvasively. Desirable attributes include informing on variables that translate into clinical decision-making guidance to improve diagnosis, better treatment planning and outcomes, ease and speed of use, appropriate cost for the indicated setting, patient-friendly probes, and reliability. In addition, the principles behind optical approaches to imaging and characterizing oral biofilm, as well as their feasibility and applicability for imaging in situ are reviewed. The results include optical images of salivary pellicle and dental plaque including their inner structures. Ultimately, the results of this study can be used to develop clinical methods for preventing and intercepting oral diseases.