Abstract
Introduction
Microorganisms are able to survive and cause persistent infection in the extraradicular
area. The aims of this study were to investigate the primary bacterial flora and the
localization of extraradicular biofilm in persistent apical periodontitis lesions.
Methods
Apical root samples from root-end surgery were collected from 23 root-filled teeth
with apical periodontitis. Five samples were examined for the presence of biofilm
by scanning electron microscopy. Another 5 samples were examined for the presence
of biofilm by Brown and Brenn–modified Gram staining. The DNA from 13 samples was
processed for amplification via polymerase chain reaction and separated with denaturing
gradient gel electrophoresis. Selected bands were excised from the gel and sequenced
for identification.
Results
The extraradicular biofilm present on the external root surface of treated teeth consisted
of abundant, amorphous extracellular material and multiple bacterial species. The
following species were detected in the microbial community from the apical samples:
Actinomyces sp. oral, Propionibacterium, Prevotella sp. oral, Streptococcus, Porphyromonas endodontalis, and Burkholderia. The prevalence of Actinomyces sp. oral and Propionibacterium were highest (84.6% and 61.5%, respectively).
Conclusions
Extraradicular biofilm was present on the external root surface of treated teeth with
persistent periapical lesions. Actinomyces sp. oral and Propionibacterium are likely important contributors to extraradicular biofilm formation and persistent
periapical infection.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 23, 2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
