DOH 560 - Oral Microbiology

2.7 credit hours

This module introduces dental students to the fundamentals of oral microbiology, with a focus on oral microbial ecology, the dental plaque biofilm, the microbiology of dental caries and periodontal disease, and microbial approaches for preventing oral diseases. This module is designed to follow directly from ASDOH 512 Medical Microbiology and ASDOH 528 Immunology, and to build directly on the knowledge and concepts learned in those modules. This module is designed to analyze major mechanisms of important oral infectious diseases and the resultant useful and harmful responses of the host. The focus is on understanding underlying processes using key example oral diseases to give depth for evaluating microbial virulence mechanisms. This basic material will help students connect with future basic science and clinical experiences, and locate and evaluate new information concerning past, present and future oral infectious diseases and their treatments. The module starts with an overview of oral immunology and microbiology. Then it progresses through an analysis of key oral viral and fungal diseases, followed by oral ecology and biofilms. This is followed by the microbiology of gingivitis, periodontal & endodontic diseases. The module ends with the microbiology of dental caries, starting with an examination of basic tooth structure (e.g.,hydroxyapatite) as well as saliva composition, and their relationship to lesion development. Key aspects of the microbiology of dental caries, with emphasis on understanding oral biofilms are next addressed. Several important anti-caries therapies, both current and potential, are examined in detail. The module emphasizes oral bacterial biofilms and plaque-related microbial diseases.