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The association of carious dentin microflora with tissue changes in human pulpitis
W L Massey1, D M Romberg, N Hunter
1Dental Clinical School, University of Western Australia, Perth.
Oral Microbiology and Immunology
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Specific bacteria, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella melaninogenica, found in carious dentin correlate with significant pulpal inflammation. This finding aids understanding of dental caries progression and host response.
Area of Science:
- Oral microbiology
- Dental pathology
- Host-microbe interactions
Background:
- Dental caries involves complex microbial communities and host responses in the dental pulp.
- Understanding the specific microbial drivers of pulpal inflammation is crucial for managing dental disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between specific microorganisms in carious dentin and pulpal tissue responses.
- To characterize the histopathological changes in dental pulps associated with carious lesions.
Main Methods:
- Samples of carious dentin from 65 human teeth were analyzed for microbial content using selective and nonselective media under various atmospheric conditions.
- Pulpal tissues were histopathologically examined to assess cellular infiltrate and degenerative changes.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between the abundance of Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella melaninogenica in carious dentin and extensive mononuclear inflammatory infiltration in the dental pulp.
- No significant correlation was observed between other identified microorganisms or the total microbial load and the observed pulpal histopathological categories.
Conclusions:
- Prevotella species, specifically Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella melaninogenica, are strongly associated with significant pulpal inflammation in carious teeth.
- The findings highlight the importance of specific bacterial species in driving pulpal pathology during dental caries, despite overall microbial complexity.