A comparative study of microbial changes in dental plaque before and after single- and multiappointment treatments in patients with severe early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: The status of dental caries is closely related to changes in the oral microbiome. In this study, we compared the diversity and structure of the dental plaque microbiome in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) before and after general anaesthesia and outpatient treatment. METHODS: Forty children aged 3 to 5 years with S-ECC who had completed whole-mouth dental treatment under general anaesthesia (C1) or in outpatient settings (C2) were selected, 20 in each group. The basic information and oral health status of the children were recorded, and the microbial community structure and diversity of dental plaque before treatment (C1, C2), the day after treatment(C2_0D), 7 days after treatment (C1_7D, C2_7D), 1 month after treatment (C1_1M, C2_1M), and 3 months after treatment (C1_3M, C2_3M) were analysed via 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology. RESULTS: (1) The alpha diversity test showed that the flora richness in the multiappointment group was significantly greater at posttreatment than at pretreatment (P < 0.05), and the remaining alpha diversity index did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The beta diversity analysis revealed that the flora structures of the C1_7D group and the C2_3M group were significantly different from those of the other time points within the respective groups (P < 0.05). (2) The core flora existed in both the pre- and posttreatment groups, and the proportion of their flora abundance could be altered depending on the caries status of the children in both groups. Leptotrichia abundance was significantly (P < 0.05) lower at 7 days posttreatment in both the single- and multiappointment groups. Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium_matruchotii were significantly more abundant in the C1_1M and C1_3M groups than in the C1 and C1_7D groups (P < 0.05). Streptococcus, Haemophilus and Haemophilus_parainfluenzae were significantly more abundant in the C1_7D group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A single session of treatment under general anaesthesia can cause dramatic changes in the microbial community structure and composition within 7 days after treatment, whereas treatment over multiple appointments may cause slow changes in oral flora diversity.

Increased interleukin 1α and interleukin 1ß expression is involved in the progression of periapical lesions in primary teeth.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is involved in bone resorption. However, the role of IL-1 in periapical lesions characterized by periapical bone destruction in primary teeth has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to detect the distribution and expression of IL-1 in periapical lesions in primary teeth and assess the relationship between the cytokines and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration. METHODS: A total of 106 chronic periapical lesions in primary teeth were harvested. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to determine the histological type and the inflammatory cell infiltration grade (mild, moderate, and severe), and immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the distribution and expression of IL-1α and IL-1ß. RESULTS: Of the 106 chronic periapical lesion samples, there were 85 cases of periapical granuloma, accounting for 80.19% of the total samples, and 21 cases of radicular cysts, accounting for 19.81%; no cases of abscess were detected. Immunohistochemistry results showed that both IL-1α and IL-1ß were expressed in periapical granulomas and cysts. ELISA results showed that IL-1α and IL-1ß levels were higher in the periapical granuloma group than in the radicular cyst and normal control groups (P < 0.05). In the periapical granuloma group, IL-1α and IL-1ß were detected at higher levels in the severe inflammatory cell infiltration subgroup than in the mild-inflammatory cell infiltration subgroup (P < 0.05), and IL-1ß expression was also higher in the moderate inflammatory cell infiltration subgroup than in the mild inflammatory cell infiltration subgroup (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was observed between the protein expression levels of IL-1α and IL-1ß and the inflammation grade in periapical granulomas from primary teeth (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Expression levels of the cytokines IL-1α and IL-1ß in periapical granulomas from primary teeth increased with increasing inflammatory severity and appeared to be a contributing factor to the progression of periapical lesions.

Preliminary molecular analysis of bacterial composition in periapical lesions with primary endodontic infections of deciduous teeth.

BACKGROUND: The bacterial composition of periapical lesions in deciduous teeth has not been well documented. This study was designed to explore the bacterial compositions, especially the dominant bacteria in periapical lesions using 16S rRNA sequencing. METHODS: Tissue samples were collected from 11 periapical lesions in deciduous teeth with primary endodontic infections. DNA was extracted from each sample and analyzed using 16S rRNA cloning and sequencing for the identification of bacteria. RESULTS: All DNA samples were positive for 16S rRNA gene PCR. One hundred and fifty-one phylotypes from 810 clones were identified to eight phyla, and each sample contained an average of 25.9 phylotypes. In addition, 59 phylotypes were detected in more than two samples, and Fusobacterium (F.) nucleatum (8/11), Dialister (D.) invisus (8/11), Campylobacter (C.) gracilis (7/11), Escherichia (E.) coli DH1 (6/11), Aggregatibacter (A.) segnis (6/11), and Streptococcus (S.) mitis (6/11) were the most prevalent species. Furthermore, 45 as-yet-uncultivated phylotypes were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic periapical lesions in deciduous teeth contained polymicrobial infections. F. nucleatum, D. invisus, C. gracilis, E. coli DH1, A. segnis, and S. mitis were the most prevalent species detected by 16S rRNA sequencing.