title: Darkfield microscopic spirochete count in the differentiation of endodontic and periodontal abscesses.
abstract: A previous experimental study indicated that a darkfield microscopic spirochete count of 0 to 10% was indicative of a lesion entirely of endodontic origin and a count between 30 and 58% suggested a purely periodontal lesion. Two clinical cases are described where the differentiation of an endodontic lesion from a periodontal lesion was difficult and the traditional diagnostic indicators either could not be used or gave conflicting results. In these cases the percentage of spirochetes in the exudates of the lesions was used as an aid to diagnosis with successful treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontology, Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trope
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tronstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012534:Dental Scaling; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D010508:Periodontal Abscess / Q000382:microbiology*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D013144:Spirochaetales / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013357:Subgingival Curettage; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide