title: Microbiologic and pathologic aspects of pulpal and periapical disease.
abstract: The greatest cause of endodontic and periapical pathosis is microbial infection of the pulp. Most odontogenic infections are of a polymicrobial nature. With advances in anaerobic isolation and culturing techniques, much has been learned about the presence of pathogenic organisms such as Porphyromonas and Prevotella species (formerly classified as black-pigmented Bacteroides species) in infected root canals. This review provides a summary of recent developments in endodontic microbiology, virulence factors, and host defense systems as they relate to the pathogenesis of pulpal and periapical inflammatory lesions.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Trowbridge
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009504:Neutrophils; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014678:Veillonella / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D016718:Arachidonic Acid