Oral Biofilm Models and Uses Thereof

A method of forming an oral biofilm, the method comprising:

• providing at least a first and a second specimen on a substrate, wherein the first specimen comprises a surface roughness less than or greater than a surface roughness of the second specimen, wherein an oral biofilm is capable of forming on the specimens;
• providing a vessel comprising a liquid growth medium, wherein the liquid growth medium comprises microorganisms capable of oral biofilm production;
• agitating the liquid growth medium;
• suspending the substrate comprising the at least first and second specimens in the vessel;
• and
• incubating the at least first and second specimen with the liquid growth medium comprising the microorganisms, thereby forming a biofilm on the at least first and second specimens.

A method for identifying an agent for reducing or inhibiting biofilm formation, the method comprising:

• providing at least a first and a second specimen on a substrate, wherein the first specimen comprises a surface roughness less than or greater than a surface roughness of the second specimen, wherein an oral biofilm is capable of for on the specimens;
• providing a vessel comprising a liquid growth medium, wherein the liquid growth medium comprises microorganisms capable of oral biofilm production;
• contacting the at least first specimen with a test agent;
• agitating said liquid growth medium;
• suspending said at least first specimen after contact with the test agent and the second specimen in the vessel;
• incubating said at least first specimen after contact with the test agent and the second specimen with the liquid growth medium comprising the microorganisms;
• and
• comparing the amount of biofilm. formed on the at least first and second specimen, wherein a reduced amount of biofilm formation on the at least first specimen in comparison to the amount of biofilm formation on the at least second specimen indicates that the test agent reduces or inhibits biofilm formation.