Biofilms in endodontic infections

Biofilm biology has become an expanding field of research in human, industrial and environmental ecosystems. The knowledge accumulated suggests that organisms growing in biofilms develop properties different to those dwelling in the planktonic state. On surveying the endodontic literature it is obvious that this realization and the fact that biofilms afford the resident microorganisms protection/resistance against harmful exogeneous influences including antimicrobial agents, is rather new to endodontology. Hence, the conditions under which biofilms occur in endodontic infections, and the measures that ought to be taken for their eradication, are not well understood. In this review the biofilm concept is presented and how it may apply to endodontic infections is discussed.