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Quantitative molecular and culture analyses of bacterial elimination in oval-shaped root canals by a single-file
F R F Alves1, I N Rôças, B M Almeida
1Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Aim:
Bacterial reduction in oval-shaped root canals by a single-instrument technique was compared ex vivo with a conventional nickel-titanium rotary technique. Data obtained from two quantification methods, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and culture, were also compared.
Methodology:
Oval-shaped canals of extracted teeth contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis were instrumented using either a single Reciproc instrument or the BioRaCe instrument series. Bacteriological samples were taken before (S1) and after instrumentation (S2). Bacterial quantification was performed using qPCR and culture.
Results:
Intragroup analysis showed that both protocols promoted a highly significant bacterial reduction (P < 0.001). Intergroup analysis (S2 samples) showed no significant differences between the two instrumentation systems (P > 0.05). As for the quantification methods, qPCR revealed significantly higher counts of E. faecalis in S1 than culture (P < 0.05), but no significant differences occurred for S2 (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The single-file technique was comparable with the conventional technique in oval-shaped canals provided the width of apical preparation, volume of irrigants and duration of irrigation are kept similar. No significant difference was observed for qPCR and culture in post-instrumentation samples, indicating that both methods can be reliably used for studies of antibacterial effectiveness.
