Role of bacteria in the tooth abscess: A mini review.

A tooth abscess or root abscess is pus enclosed in the tissues of the jaw bone at the apex of an infected tooth's root(s). Usually the abscess originates from a bacterial infection that has accumulated in the soft, often dead, pulp of the tooth. This can be caused by untreated tooth decay, cracked teeth or extensive periodontal disease. A failed root canal treatment may also create a similar abscess. Recently developed molecular methods have made it possible to characterise mixed micro flora in their entirety, including the substantial numbers of uncultivable bacteria. This paper will review the current literature regarding the molecular techniques used to identify uncultivable bacteria from dental abscess.