Theory II

not made up of or containing cells

attachment of one substance to the surface of another; the action of a substance in attracting and holding ohter materials or particles on its surface

heterotrophic microorganism that can live and grow in the presence of free oxygen; some are obligate, others facultative; adj. aerobic

heterotrophic microorganisms that lives and grows in complete (or almost complete) absence of oxygen; some are obligate, others facultative; adf. anaerobic

matrix-enclosed bacterial populations adherent to each other, and/or to surfaces or interfaces

formation of calculus

adjective applied to dental biofilm that is conducive to the formation of calculus

develpment of dental caries

adjective to indicate a conduciveness to the intitiation of dental caries, such as a cariogenic biofilm or a cariogenic food

able to live under more than one specific set of environmental conditions; contrast with obligate

the collective organisms of a given locale

the various bacteria and other microscopic organisms that inhabit the oral cavity. The mouth has an indigenous flora, meaning those organisms that are native to that area of the body. Certain organisms specifically reside in certain parts, for example, on the tongue, on the mucosa, or in the gingival sulcus

the forcefulc wedging of food into the periodontium by occlusal forces

not self-sustaining; feeding on others

material present between bacteria in dental biofilm; derived from saliva, gingival exudate, and microorganisms

invasion and multiplication of a microorganism in body tissues

white blood corpuscle capable of ameboid movement; functions to protect the body against infection and disease

white or cream-colored cheesy mass that can collet over dental biofilm on unclean, neglected teeth; it is composed of food debris, mucin, and bacteria

stage or process of attaining maximal development; become mature

the microspcopic living organisms of a region

minute living organisms, usually microscopic; includes bacteria, rikettsiae, viruses, fungi, and protozoa

pleomorphic, gram-negative bacteria that lack cell walls; many are regular oral cavity residents; some are phathogenic

ability to survive only in a particular environment; opposite of facultative

plan or animal that lives upon or within another living organism and dreaws its nourishment therefrom; may be obligate or facultative; adj. parasitic

disease-producing agent or microorganism; adj. pathogenic

assumption of various distinct forms by a single organism or within a species; adj. pleomorphic

any organism, such as bacteria, that lives upon dead or decaying organic matter