Biofilm Analysis in Dental Caries Research

Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying dental caries and erosive tooth wear, with particular interest in the role of oral biofilms and novel biofilm management strategies. In recent years, our group has investigated the potential of natural compounds, such as polyphenols, to modulate oral biofilms and the salivary pellicle, with the aim of developing new preventive strategies against caries and dental erosion.

With the support of the  the UniBern Forschungsstiftung via the BEKB Förderfonds funding pool, we acquired new laboratory infrastructure that enables advanced molecular investigations of dental biofilms, saliva, and acquired enamel pellicle components for both in vitro and clinical studies.

The devices – an automated colony counter for optimized biofilm quantification (Figure 1A), an OD600 photometer for inoculum standardization (Figure 1B), a thermoshaker for molecular biology applications with exchangeable block (Figure 1C) and a cooling high-speed centrifuge (Figure 1C) – support investigations of novel antimicrobial compounds, as well as sample preparation for PCR-based analyses, oral microbiome sequencing, and proteomics, to study the oral biofilm composition, virulence, and interactions with dental tissues.

Dr. Luciana Pisenti Berto

Prof. Dr. Thiago Saads Carvalho

Klinik für Zahnerhaltung, Präventiv- und Kinderzahnmedizin