ABSTRACT
Periradicular tissues from 28 refractory endodontic cases requiring surgical intervention were submitted for histological diagnosis and microbiological culture. Bacteria isolated from these lesions were identified and then tested for their antibiotic sensitivity to a panel of common antibiotics. The periapical tissue specimens of 22 out of 28 lesions (79%) contained microorganisms. Of the 22 cases showing positive growth cultures, 15 were polymicrobial and 7 were single species isolates. Fifty-three different species were recovered: 29 anaerobes, 19 facultative anaerobes, and 5 aerobes. Microbes were observed under light microscopy in only one case. The most common organisms isolated were Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus intermedius, Wolinella recta, Fusobacterium species, and Clostridium species. Antibiotic susceptibility results showed no clear cut evidence of significant antibiotic resistance among the species tested. The results of this study seem to corroborate earlier studies regarding the microbial population of periapical lesions refractory to nonsurgical endodontics.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacteria/drug effects , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Periapical Granuloma/microbiology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Cocci/drug effects , Gram-Positive Cocci/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Rods/drug effects , Gram-Positive Rods/isolation & purification , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Periapical Granuloma/drug therapy , Periapical Granuloma/surgery , RetreatmentABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine if U.S. Air Force dentists have a significantly higher prevalence of infection from M. tuberculosis than a similar no-dentist group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A written survey instrument was sent to all active duty Air Force dentists and lawyers. The survey asked individuals to voluntarily and anonymously give information regarding positive tuberculin skin testing which was subsequently treated with antituberculosis medication. Only positive responses which occurred during the time the respondent was practicing as a dentist or lawyer in the Air Force were counted. Significant exposures were considered to have occurred in those persons who were evaluated by a physician and actually put on a course of antituberculosis medication. RESULTS: The dentists returned 82.7% of the 1256 surveys sent, of which 2.37% indicated a significant exposure. The lawyers returned 79.6% of 1321 surveys, of which 1.47% were positive for significant exposure. Chi-square analysis indicated no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.14).
Subject(s)
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional , Military Dentistry , Occupational Exposure , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/transmission , Adult , Air Microbiology , Chi-Square Distribution , Dentists , Female , Humans , Male , Military Personnel , Prevalence , Professional Practice Location , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A survey covering 8 years and 3350 consecutive endodontic patients (1958 men (58%) and 1392 women (42%)) was conducted to determine the frequency of endodontic treatment for each tooth. At the time of initial examination, 3672 teeth required root canal therapy. Three hundred twenty-two patients needed endodontic therapy on multiple teeth. Posterior teeth were most frequently treated, 80.1% of the total with molars requiring 52.6% of the needed endodontic treatment. The mandibular first molar was treated most often, 18.8% of the time, followed by the maxillary first molar (13.5%) and the mandibular second molar (12.0%). The number of endodontically treated maxillary and mandibular teeth was similar, 50.8% and 49.2%, respectively.
Subject(s)
Dental Pulp Diseases/epidemiology , Root Canal Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Bicuspid , Cuspid , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Incidence , Incisor , Male , Mandible , Maxilla , Molar , Sex Ratio , Texas/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Two cases of thermally induced pulpalgia in teeth previously endodontically treated are presented. Reproduction of the patient's chief complaint was the key to identifying the teeth involved. In both cases, the pulpalgia was stimulated by heat. After locating and treating an unfilled canal, the teeth have remained asymptomatic. Possible explanations for this occurrence are discussed.
