title: Isolation of Enterococcus faecalis in previously root-filled canals in a Lithuanian population.
abstract: The occurrence of Enterococcus faecalis in root canals of previously root filled teeth with apical periodontitis requiring retreatment was studied in Lithuanian patients. Twenty-five asymptomatic teeth were included in the study. Avoiding contamination microbiological samples were taken from the canals before and after preparation and irrigation with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA. Microbes were isolated from 20 of 25 teeth. E. faecalis was isolated from 14 of those 20 culture positive teeth, usually in pure culture or as a major component of the flora. Second samples taken after preparation revealed growth in 7 of the 20 teeth. Five of the seven cases were E. faecalis in pure culture. Isolation of E. faecalis was not related to the use of any particular root filling material in the original root filling. The results indicate that, rather than previous chemical treatment, it is the ecological conditions present in the incompletely filled root canal that are important for the presence of E. faecalis in these teeth.
authors.affiliation: Stomatological Clinic, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peciuliene
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balciuniene
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haapasalo
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000254:growth & development*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D019233:Retreatment; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite