Streptococci gordonii biofilm grown on a dental restorative; imaged by scanning electron microscopy.

Dental restoratives are a perfect surface for the prolific growth of bacterial biofilm cultures. S. gordonii in particular is a pioneering colonizer of tooth surfaces, allowing other bacteria to colonize the surface, forming a robust dental plaque.This image shows the extracellular polymeric substances that are released to create a caged hammock around the bacteria protecting them from environmental stresses and antibacterial treatments. The width of the image is approximately 4 micrometers.