A Systematic Review of the Root Canal Microbiota Associated with Apical Periodontitis: Lessons from Next‐Generation Sequencing

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has now been applied for a decade to characterize the microbiota composition of infected dental root canals associated with apical periodontitis. Here, the study aims at systematically and critically reviewing these reports within the outcome of interest selected; the microbiota composition in different endodontic infection types. Standard methodological guidelines as stated by the PRISMA and the Joanna Briggs Institute are followed, including a risk of bias assessment. A literature search is conducted using the PubMed Advanced-Search Builder on April 8, 2019; only original research articles that investigated the microbiota of infected root-canals by means of NGS are screened. Among the 26 articles initially identified, 18 are included and evaluated for the following parameters; sampling protocol, sequencing strategy, and microbiota composition. The endodontic infections include primary apical periodontitis (PAP), secondary apical periodontitis (SAP), and apical abscess (AA). All infection types are associated with a highly diverse microbiota. Although some taxa appear differentially abundant between PAPs, SAPs, and AAs, no evident clustering of the microbiota by infection type is observed. These studies collectively formulate a comprehensive map of the taxa associated with endodontic infections and provide evidence of compositionally unspecific, yet abundance differentiates, community profiles according to clinical diagnosis.The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.

Oral Fine Motor Control of Teeth Treated with Endodontic Microsurgery: A Single-Blinded Case-control Study

“…Root-end surgery is considered standard treatment care for tooth preservation, typically if the primary endodontic treatment has failed and non-surgical root canal retreatment becomes impractical or unlikely to improve the prognosis of the treatment (1,2). During the past 25 years, the root-end surgery has experienced noticeable changes and emerged into endodontic microsurgery (EMS), which involve the use of magnification devices, technological advancement, micro-instruments, and biocompatible filling materials (3).…”

Nonsurgical endodontic management of mandibular first premolar with incomplete root‐end resection

“…In addition, the majority of posttreatment apical periodontitis is caused by sustained and colonized intraradicular bacteria rather than by extraradicular infection. 2,6 Although root-end filling provides good sealing for the root canal space, leakage of the microbial infection after surgical treatment can cause redevelopment of apical periodontitis. Consequently, nonsurgical retreatment should be considered before any surgical procedure.…”

Metaproteome and metabolome of oral microbial communities

“…Together, these studies formulate a comprehensive map of the taxa associated with endodontic infections. 60 Whereas nucleic acid-based taxonomic characterization provides important insights into the ecology of these biofilms, it is less informative regarding their metabolic functions, physiology, and pathogenicity. Therefore, one important challenge that remains is to identify the proteome expressed by these communities and which ultimately modulates bacterial interactions and virulence.…”

“…This last decade, considerable efforts, mostly using high‐throughput sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons, have been devoted to defining the taxonomic composition of endodontic infections associated with different types of apical periodontitis. Together, these studies formulate a comprehensive map of the taxa associated with endodontic infections 60 . Whereas nucleic acid‐based taxonomic characterization provides important insights into the ecology of these biofilms, it is less informative regarding their metabolic functions, physiology, and pathogenicity.…”