Bacteriological analysis of necrotic pulp and fistulae in primary teeth

Objectives: Primary teeth work as guides for the eruption of permanent dentition, contribute for the development of the jaws, chewing process, preparing food for digestion, and nutrient assimilation. Treatment of pulp necrosis in primary teeth is complex due to anatomical and physiological characteristics and high number of bacterial species present in endodontic infections. The bacterial presence alone or in association in necrotic pulp and fistula samples from primary teeth of boys and girls was evaluated. Material and Methods: Necrotic pulp (103) and fistula (7) samples from deciduous teeth with deep caries of 110 children were evaluated. Bacterial morphotypes and species from all clinical samples were determined. Results: A predominance of gram-positive cocci (81.8%) and gram-negative coccobacilli (49.1%) was observed. In 88 out of 103 pulp samples, a high prevalence of Enterococcus spp. (50%), Porphyromonas gingivalis (49%), Fusobacterium nucleatum (25%) and Prevotella nigrescens (11.4%) was observed. Porphyromonas gingivalis was detected in three out of seven fistula samples, Enterococcus spp. in two out of seven samples, and F. nucleatum, P. nigrescens and D. pneumosintes in one out of seven samples. Conclusions: Our results show that Enterococcus spp. and P. gingivalis were prevalent in necrotic pulp from deciduous teeth in boys from 2 to 5 years old, and that care of the oral cavity of children up to five years of age is important. .

La fístula dentoalveolar: ¿un síntoma o una enfermedad? / The dentoalveolar sinus tract, a symptom or an illness?

La fístula dentoalveolar se desarrolla como una ruta de drenaje desde una lesión inflamatoria periapical, siguiendo el camino de menor resistencia, a través de hueso, periostio y mucosa. Puede salir a través de cualquier punto de la mucosa bucal o aún por la piel. Algunos profesionales están convencidos de que la presencia de una fístula indica una lesión seria que requiere cirugía apical e incluso la exodoncia. Sin embargo, su tratamiento tiene buen pronóstico, siendo la indicación correcta una adecuada terapia endodóntica no quirúrgica.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of endodontic pastes with propolis extracts and calcium hydroxide: a preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of two experimental pastes containing propolis extract associated with calcium hydroxide against polymicrobial cultures collected from 16 necrotic and fistulae root canals in primary molars of 4-8-year-old children of both sexes. The agar-well diffusion technique was used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the following pastes: 11.0 percent ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) + calcium hydroxide; and 11.0 percent extract of propolis without ethanol (EP) + calcium hydroxide. EEP, EP and the association of calcium hydroxide and propylene glycol (CHP) was used as the positive control groups, and propylene glycol was used as a negative control group. Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare the data from the microbial growth inhibition zones (p<0.05). Paste 1 and Paste 2 showed larger growth inhibition zones against microorganisms from root canal samples than CHP (p=0.021 and 0.003, respectively). Paste 2 tended to have larger growth inhibition zones than Paste 1 (p=0.053). The association between propolis and calcium hydroxide was effective in controlling dental infections in vitro.

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana de duas pastas experimentais, contendo própolis associada a hidróxido de cálcio, contra culturas polimicrobianas coletadas de 16 molares decíduos necrosados e com fístulas extraídos de crianças entre 4 e 6 anos de idade de ambos os sexos. A técnica de difusão em ágar foi utilizada para determinar a atividade antimicrobiana das seguintes pastas: (1) 11,0 por cento extrato etanólico de própolis + hidróxido de cálcio e (2) 11,0 por cento extrato de própolis sem álcool + hidróxido de cálcio. A associação de hidróxido de cálcio com propilenoglicol foi utilizada como o grupo de controle positivo (CHP). Testes estatísticos de Friedman and Wilcoxon foram empregados para comparar dados do crescimento das zonas de inibição (p<0,05). Pasta 1 e Pasta 2 apresentaram zonas de inibição maiores contra os microrganismos coletados dos canais radiculares do que CHP (p=0,021 e 0,003 respectivamente). A Pasta 2 mostrou zonas de inibição um pouco mais largas que a Pasta 1 (p=0,053). A associação entre própolis e hidróxido de cálcio foi efetiva no controle de infecções dentárias in vitro.