Abstract
The fate of DNA from bacteria that infect the root canal but cannot survive is currently
unknown, yet such information is essential in establishing the validity of polymerase
chain reaction (PCR)–based identification methods for root canal samples. This in vitro study tested the hypothesis that PCR-detectable DNA from dead bacteria might persist
after cell death and investigated the efficiency of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as
a field decontamination agent. Using heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis, the persistence of DNA encoding the 16S rRNA gene was monitored by PCR. While most
probable number analysis showed an approximate 1000-fold decay in amplifiable template,
E. faecalis DNA was still PCR-detectable 1 year after cell death. NaOCl (1%) eliminated amplifiable
DNA within 60 seconds of exposure. Our findings also disclosed a previously overlooked
problem of concentration-dependent inhibition of the PCR reaction by thiosulfate-inactivated
NaOCl. These results highlight the challenges of reliably identifying the authentic
living root canal flora with PCR techniques.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 16, 2007
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© 2007 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
