Bh. Sen et al., GROWTH-PATTERNS OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS IN RELATION TO RADICULAR DENTIN, Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology and endodontics, 84(1), 1997, pp. 68-73
Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen isolated from the
oral cavity. The role of this organism as an endodontic pathogen is po
orly understood.Objectives. The aim of this study was to observe the i
nteraction of C. albicans with root canal walls and the growth pattern
s of this microorganism in relation to radicular dentin. Study design.
Fifteen root sections were infected with C. albicans grown in calf se
rum and incubated for various periods. The sections were fixed in glut
araldehyde, split into two halves, and evaluated by scanning electron
microscopy.Results, Blastospores and hyphal structures were observed o
n the root canal walls of all specimens. Filamentous hyphal form was d
ominant in 5-day specimens. Most of the hyphae and blastospores showed
penetration into dentinal tubules. The body of germinating mother cel
ls and hyphae demonstrated collapsed cell walls as a result of vacuole
formation. Conclusions. With this invasive affinity to dentinal struc
tures, C. albicans may be considered a dentinophilic microorganism.