Interactions between dental materials, salivary proteins and the oral microbiome

Facts

Contact person:: Julia Davies
Financer:: KK Stiftelsen
Responsible at MaU:: Julia Davies
External project members:: Docent Ann-Mari Roos-Jansåker

Professor Alex Mira and Dr Miguel Carda FISABIO Valencia Spain
Collaborators :: Promimic AB
Time frame:: 01 September 2025 - 01 January 2030
Faculty/department:: Faculty of Odontology
Research environment :: Advancing Oral Health
Research subject:: Dentistry

Microbiology

Project description

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis, inflammatory conditions involving degradation of oral bone and connective tissues induced by bacterial biofilms, are major contributors to the loss of natural and artificial teeth. Development of biofilms is heavily influenced by the properties of the surface on which they form, mediated through the surface-associated salivary protein pellicle.

This phenomenon has not been well studied for emerging materials used in artificial teeth and reconstructions. We will use advanced methodologies to compare the composition of salivary pellicles on distinct material surfaces with those of natural teeth as well as identify key microbial proteins modulating biofilm formation and phenotype.