title: Comparative analysis of endodontic pathogens using checkerboard hybridization in relation to culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to detect bacterial species and to quantify the total number of bacteria from samples of infected root canals before (S1) and after chemo-mechanical preparation using 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel as auxiliary chemical substance (S2) and after 7 days of intracanal dressing (S3) to compare microbial changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four teeth were selected for this study. Chemo-mechanical preparation was performed using 2% CHX gel, then three different intracanal medicaments [M1: Ca(OH)(2) paste; M2: 2% CHX gel; and M3: Ca(OH)(2) paste plus 2% CHX gel] were used for 7 days. Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization was performed to detect 40 bacterial species. Aerobic and anaerobic culture techniques were used to determine the bacterial community by counting the colony-forming units (CFU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The species most frequently identified by checkerboard in S1 were: Fusobacterium nucleatum ssp. polymorphum, Treponema socranskii ssp. socranskii, Parvimonas micra and Enterococcus faecalis. In S2 and S3 a total of eight different species were identified; and only one of them was gram-positive (E. faecalis). Microorganisms were not identified after use of M2 for 7 days. The quantification obtained on agar plates ranged from 4 x 10(5) to 2.6 x 10(6) CFU/ml in S1, mean CFU was reduced by 99.96% in S2, and there was no statistical difference between the CFU in S2 and S3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antibacterial effect of the mechanical preparation supplemented by the use of an antibacterial auxiliary substance greatly reduced the microorganisms in the main root canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Endodontic Division, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vianna
authors.forename: H-P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Horz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conrads
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feres
authors.forename: B P F A
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000145:classification; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000145:classification; D005051:Eubacterium / Q000145:classification; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification; D014208:Treponema / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002710:Chlorhexidine