[Bacteriological studies during conservative treatment of periapical inflammations]

32 teeth with the diagnosis of periapical osteitis (established by clinical and radiological examinations) were subjected to endodontic treatment (irrigation with hydrogen peroxide), the course of which was followed by bacteriological examinations. The timing of treatment termination depended solely upon clinical evaluation. The examination of smears taken before the last irrigation showed that 26 of the 32 root canals (81%) were germ-free; in 2 cases, an anaerobic infection was still extant; and in 4 cases, an aerobic infection was observed. The high percentage of root canals which were germ-free before the last irrigation testifies to the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide application for disinfecting root canals on the one hand, and demonstrates the good agreement between clinical and bacteriological findings on the other hand. The germs identified belonged mainly to the normal oral flora. Enterococci proved to be particularly resistant. The conservative treatment of periapical osteitis by means of root-canal disinfection with a hydrogen peroxide preparation ans subsequent root-canal filling with a calcium peroxide paste is recommended.