A Deeper Insight of a Multi-dimensional Continuum Biofilm Growth Model: Experimental Observation and Parameter Studies

Streptococcus gordonii is one of the first colonizing bacteria on tooth or dental implant materials forming so-called biofilm. These biofilms cause severe inflammation that, as a consequence, lead to tooth or implant failure. A promising way to study the S. gordonii biofilm formation is by combining experimental investigations and numerical simulation. Our previous research has shown the potential to model the growth process of the S. gordonii biofilm in a mimic human oral environment by using a mathematical model developed by Alpkvist and Klapper (the A-K model). The parameters used for the simulation were calibrated by the experimental results. However, what are the crucial parameters that have a strong influence on the biofilm growth behavior and thus need to be determined accurately is an open question. In this paper, parameter studies on four independent parameters are carried out.