ABSTRACT

The oral cavity is a habitat to a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, and viruses. Bacteria are the most common type of microorganism present in the oral milieu. This chapter discusses scientific evidence with regard to the processes associated with early attachment of oral bacteria onto surfaces covered by saliva, the formation and growth of oral biofilms, and the interactions between antibacterial polymer-based restorative materials and oral biofilms. Modern multi-functional polymer-based restorative materials have been developed to overcome the significant and critical limitations associated with materials containing leachable antibacterial agents. These novel dental biomaterials were engineered based on the immobilization of antibacterial agents to result in materials with long-lasting functionalities and superior chemical, physical, mechanical, and optical properties. The addition of silver nanoparticles to polymer-based restorative materials has been correlated with significant reductions in caries-producing bacteria. The majority of reports indicate minor impact on their mechanical properties and dentin shear strength values.