Abstract:
The goal of this work - published as thesis at Tuebingen University, Germany - was to characterize the vitality status of remaining microorganisms in root dentin after placement of root canal medicaments or filling materials. In order to determine the vital/dead percentage of bacterial cells a fluorescence staining method was introduced. Results were compared with those obtained after a classic plate counting method. In a pilot study 24 human root segments were prepared + exposed to Streptococcus sanguinis or Enterococcus faecalis. They were divided in 2 control + 2 test groups. Root dentine was sampled after 4 + 8 weeks (control groups) + after 4 + 12 weeks (test groups). In the test groups Ca(OH)2 paste was placed in the root canals after 8 weeks. The vitality status was determined by means of the percentage of vital/dead bacteria (VB) + the number of colony forming units (CFU/ml) for each dentine sample. Afterwards the experimental model was improved. 60 root segments were prepared and divided in 6 groups for the main experiment. In the S. sanguinis groups Ca(OH)2 paste, lateral condensed gutta-percha points with sealer (GP) or ceramic points (KS) were applied as root canal filling. Root segments infected with E. faecalis were filled with Ca(OH)2 paste, chlorhexidine gel (5 CHX-Gel) or chlorhexidine gutta percha points (CHX-GP). Ca(OH)2, CHX-gel and CHX-GP were removed after 4 weeks. KS and GP were removed after 24 weeks. Root dentine was sampled after 4, 12 (Ca(OH)2, CHX-Gel + CHX-GP) + 32 weeks (GP and KS). The vitality status was determined by means of VB and CFU/mg. The experimental model was able to determine the percentage of vital bacterial cells remaining in root dentine. In case of S. sanguinis, the root canal filling alone resulted in a reduction of the percentage of vital + cultivable bacteria. By E. faecalis, the use of CHX resulted in a clear reduction of vital and cultivable bacteria in contrast to calcium hydroxide.