Predominant indigenous oral bacteria isolated from infected root canals after varied times of closure.

Abstract

The pulps of 24 root canals, 8 in each of 3 monkeys, were mechanically devitalized and exposed to the mouth flora for about 1 wk and thereafter sealed. Microbiologic sampling and analysis was performed in 16 teeth (2 of the monkeys) after 7 days of closure (initial samples). The teeth of the 3 monkeys represented observation times of 90, 180 and 1060 days. At the end of each observation period final samples were taken. Final sampling included samples from the main root canal, the dentin and the apical region at the same sampling session. All microbiologic analyses were carried out quantitatively. Final root canal samples from the apical region showed a predominance of obligately anaerobic non-sporulating bacteria; in fact, 85-90% of the bacterial cells were anaerobic. The most frequently found species were Bacteroides and gram-positive anaerobic rods. A lower proportion of facultatively anaerobic bacteria was found. This was most pronounced for coliform rods in comparison with strains of B. melaninogenicus.