ANGST, Patrícia Daniela Melchiors; GOMES, Sabrina Carvalho    OPPERMANN, Rui Vicente. From plaque control to the supragingival biofilm control: what have we learnt over time?. Rev. Assoc. Paul. Cir. Dent. []. 2015, 69, 3, pp. 252-259. ISSN 0004-5276.

The most prevalent periodontal diseases are those associated with the presence of dental plaque, nowadays understood as a dental biofilm. The comprehension of the biofilm dynamics rekindled old discussions that, since then, sought to determine the eligible and preferred therapies for periodontal diseases. Under the concept of "dental plaque", the gingivitis treatment, and also the periodontitis one were based on the elimination of every and any plaque or of some bacteria species. The later determining the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Currently, the biofilm concept, understood as microbial communities with interdependent mechanisms of self-regulation, nutrition and communication and involved in a synergism to render its subsistence, changed the way not only to understand the periodontal diseases etiology but, in special, the way to treat them. Under this concept, the role of microorganisms not necessarily points to specific bacteria infecting the sites and causing diseases, but to periodontal diseases as an opportunist infection linked to a retro feeding process between the dental biofilm and the host. Alongside, the supragingival biofilm has meant more than the etiologic factor of gingivitis, but also as an important modulator of subgingival environment. In this sense, the periodontal therapy is challenged by conceptual trends, such as the comprehension of the meaning of supragingival control for the prevention, treatment and maintenance of therapeutic results. Therefore, the present review aimed to revise the role of the supragingival biofilm control to periodontal condition, and, also, to discuss results of studies under the concept of periodontal diseases as opportunists infections.

: biofilms; oral hygiene; periodontal diseases; dental scaling.