Comparison of profiles of key periodontal pathogens in periodontium and endodontium

Despite tho established anatomical relationship between the periodontal and pulpal tissues, bacterial migration between endodontium and periodontium i s still under discussion. The objective of this study was an investigation of profiles of periodontal pathogens in pulpal and periodontal diseases aff ecting the same tooth by means of 16S rRNA gene directed polymerase chain r eaction (PCR). 31 intact teeth with both pulp and marginal infections were investigated. The diagnosis tvas based on clinical and radiological examina tion. Samples were taken from the gingival sulcus or periodontal pocket, re spectively, with sterile paper points before trepanation of the teeth. Afte r trepanation sterile paper points and Hedstroem files were used for taking samples from the root canal. Specific PCR methods were used to detect the presence of the following pathogens: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroidex forsythus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphy romonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Treponema denticola. In addit ion, quantitative competitive PCR was used to determine the total bacterial count of the samples. The investigated pathogens were proven to be present in the endodontium in all disease categories. Particularly in endodontic s amples of "chronic apical periodontitis" and "chronic adult periodontitis" profiles of the periodontal pathogens were found. The results confirmed tha t periodontal pathogens often accompany endodontic infections and supported the idea that the periodontic-endodontic interrelationships should be cons idered as critical pathways which might contribute to refractory courses of endodontic or periodontal diseases.