IADR Abstract Archives
Cryotherapy for Managing Oral Biofilms: Beyond Biofilms Removal
Objectives: Cryotherapy is used in dental practice as a safe, easy to perform, and relatively inexpensive treatment for various oral lesions. It is well-known for improving the healing process. However, its effect on oral biofilms is not known yet. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the consequences of applying cryotherapy to in-vitro oral biofilms.
Methods: Multispecies oral biofilms (14 species) were grown on the surface of hydroxyapatite discs. The formed biofilms were treated with CryoPen® X+ using the appropriate applicator, for 1, 2, or 3 freeze/thaw cycles (5 seconds freeze, with 10 seconds thaw). Biofilms without treatment served as control. Biofilms were split into two groups, one for collection and analysis directly after the cryotherapy, and the other for reincubation for 24 hr to allow recovery of the biofilms. Biofilms then were analysed with v-qPCR analysis to check the biofilm community compositional changes. The structures of the biofilms after the cryotherapy and 24 hr after recovery from the treatment were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), to follow the possible changes.
Results: Cryotreatment of the in-vitro oral multispecies biofilms resulted in a decrease in the biofilm bacterial load, which increased with more treatment cycles. The v-qPCR results showed that the ecology of the recovered biofilms was significantly better than the non-treated ones. Also, the SEM images of the biofilms showed changes in the layers of the biofilms after applying the cryotherapy, with a dominance of the commensal species in the structure of the biofilms after recovery from the cryotherapy.
Conclusions: Cryotherapy might represent a totally new approach in oral biofilm management, that shows promising results as a selective method for eradicating pathobionts and maintaining oral commensals, without using antiseptics or antimicrobials.
Methods: Multispecies oral biofilms (14 species) were grown on the surface of hydroxyapatite discs. The formed biofilms were treated with CryoPen® X+ using the appropriate applicator, for 1, 2, or 3 freeze/thaw cycles (5 seconds freeze, with 10 seconds thaw). Biofilms without treatment served as control. Biofilms were split into two groups, one for collection and analysis directly after the cryotherapy, and the other for reincubation for 24 hr to allow recovery of the biofilms. Biofilms then were analysed with v-qPCR analysis to check the biofilm community compositional changes. The structures of the biofilms after the cryotherapy and 24 hr after recovery from the treatment were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), to follow the possible changes.
Results: Cryotreatment of the in-vitro oral multispecies biofilms resulted in a decrease in the biofilm bacterial load, which increased with more treatment cycles. The v-qPCR results showed that the ecology of the recovered biofilms was significantly better than the non-treated ones. Also, the SEM images of the biofilms showed changes in the layers of the biofilms after applying the cryotherapy, with a dominance of the commensal species in the structure of the biofilms after recovery from the cryotherapy.
Conclusions: Cryotherapy might represent a totally new approach in oral biofilm management, that shows promising results as a selective method for eradicating pathobionts and maintaining oral commensals, without using antiseptics or antimicrobials.