MICROBIOLOGY IN ENDODONTICS

STREPTOCOCCUS SALIVARIS
 Aerobic
 Most abundant
 At birth
 Mainly in saliva
 1st organism to invade the oral cavity
 Seen in aeroter

STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANTS
 Aerobic
 Seen 1st at 6 months age
 Appears after tooth eruption only
 Associated with teeth mostly
 Caries initiator – because enamel contains 95% inorganic content – mutants demineralize inorganic substances
 Examples – nursing bottle caries, smooth surface caries, incipient caries

LACTOBACILLUS
 Aerobic
 Caries progression
 Attacks dentine – because dentine contains 65% inorganic & 35% organic – lactobacillus demineralize organic component easily

ACTINOMYCES
 Strictly anaerobic
 Gram +ve
 Root / senile caries
 Also seen in root canal as part of mixed flora in it

E-FECALIS
 Re-infection in RC treated teeth
 Most persistent organism in root canals
 Can be killed by MTAD / CHX only

OTHER BACTERIAL SPECIES SEEN IN INFECTED ROOT CANALS
 Porphyromonas gingivalis
 Bacteroids melaninogenicus
 Eubacteria species
 Fusobacterium species
 Prevotella special
(Strict and obligate anaerobes are predominant) ( Collagenase & toxins from bacteria &
spirochetes are seen in canals )