Effect of splint placement on black-pigmented Bacteroides and spirochetes in the dental plaque of beagle dogs.
The gingival microbiota in beagle dogs was investigated during a period of 42 days after the placement of continuous wire and arch bar splints. The splints were found to induce an increase in helicoidal-shaped micro-organisms and black-pigmented Bacteroides. Two different asaccharolytic Bacteroides types were isolated and tentatively identified as B. gingivalis and B. asaccharolyticus. In addition, B. intermedius-like organisms were isolated. The last two species were observed only after splint placement. The local accumulation of helicoidal-shaped micro-organisms in the epithelial tissue rather than in the micro-ulcerations was regarded as an indication of an active role for these spirochetes in the disease process. The observed shift toward tissue-invading and potentially pathogenic micro-organisms after splinting stresses the need for antimicrobial measures during splint placement in order to minimize periodontal destruction.
D000818:Animals; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000382:microbiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D010515:Periodontal Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D010516:Periodontal Splints / Q000009:adverse effects; D010519:Periodontium / Q000382:microbiology; D013144:Spirochaetales / Q000302:isolation & purification*