THE FATE OF BACTERIA SEALED IN DENTAL CAVITIES

¹ College of Dentistry, University of Illinois, Chicago, Ill.

1. In the 10 cases studied in detail streptococci (short chain) were present in 8 (gamma streptococci in 6 and Streptococcus viridans in 2). Lactobacilli were present in 5. Staphylococci were present in 2.

2. Lactobacilli in all cases studied died out at some time between 2 and 10 months. Staphylococci remained positive for at least 1 year in one case and in the other could not be followed up because of the patients' failure to return before the seal of the cavity was destroyed. Streptococci were the most prevalent and resistant and in one-third of the cases still remained positive after being sealed for more than 1 year.

3. No particular type of organism found in decayed dentin seemed to be associated with either so-called acute or chronic decay.

4. One of the 3 cases that still remained positive after 1 years had all clinical traces of decay removed.

5. In no case was there any gross indication of progress of decay.

6. It appears as though (a) the carious process in dentin definitely stops or gradually ceases as soon as the lesion is closed from the oral environment even when the organisms remain alive; (b) the bacteria have a tendency to die out; but (c) in 30% of the cases studied positive cultures of streptococci persisted after being sealed for more than a year.

Apparently an effective, penetrating sterilizing agent may be necessary in deep decayed lesions near the pulp not to stop the carious process from progressing because it ceases automatically upon filling of the cavity, but to eliminate the possible surviving organisms and eradicate a possible focus of bacterial growth that may eventually injure the dental pulp or tissues elsewhere in the body through focal infection.

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				E. M. Oong, S. O. Griffin, W. G. Kohn, B. F. Gooch, and P. W. Caufield The Effect of Dental Sealants on Bacteria Levels in Caries Lesions: A Review of the Evidence J Am Dent Assoc, March 1, 2008; 139(3): 271 - 278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]