PCR Analysis as a Method of Microbiological Control in Endodontic Treatment Is there a Correlation to Healing? A pilot study

• Main Authors: Björk, Elisabeth, Wu, Jenny
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Umeå universitet, Institutionen för odontologi 2018
• Subjects: PCR; endodontic treatment; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-153622

Introduction: It is scientifically established that absence of viable bacteria in the root canal prior to root filling is an important factor for a successful outcome of endodontic treatment. Culturing technique is often used to confirm a root canal free from bacteria before obturation. This technique has some unfavorable limitations. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular technique which can be used to analyze the endodontic microflora and enable faster analytical progress. It is however uncertain if PCR can be used to predict treatment outcome in endodontic treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate whether PCR as a method could be used to predict treatment outcome by bacterial sampling prior to root filling.   Methods: During strict aseptic conditions, bacterial samples were taken in 24 single-rooted teeth on two occasions. The first samples were taken directly after access cavity was made, and the second samples were taken after the canals were treated and cleaned with antimicrobial substances, using sterile saline and paper points. The samples were transferred to fluid thioglycolate medium. Analyzes of all the samples were made with PCR-method and culturing technique. These results were correlated to healing seen in x-rays for each tooth.   Results: No correlation between healing and bacterial DNA numbers prior to root filling analysis was found. Neither was a correlation found between the bacterial DNA numbers prior to treatment and bacterial numbers before root filling.   Conclusions: The results indicate that PCR, as a method, cannot be used to predict the outcome of endodontic treatment.