About 16 million primary endodontic treatments are performed annually in the U.S., to treat pulpal and periradicular pathoses. Pulp necrosis and the development of periradicular lesion results in significant reduction in success of endodontic therapy, a significant percentage of tooth loss and may be associated with significant infections causing pain and swelling. The microorganisms associated with the pathogenesis, the increased severity of clinical symptoms, and the resistance to healing following treatment of endodontic infections has not been adequately characterized. We hypothesize that symptomatic endodontic infections and the absence of healing following adequate endodontic therapy are associated with the presence in the root canal of specific virulent microorganisms. We further hypothesize that microbial survival in the root canal system following endodontic instrumentation techniques, leads to a reduction in long-term healing of periradicular lesions.
The Aims of this research project are: 1) To identify the predominant cultivable and not-yet-cultivated bacteria and fungi in endodontic infections, 2) To test the hypothesis that specific bacterial and fungal species are associated with the development of symptoms or the resistance to treatment, and 3) To test the hypothesis that specific bacterial and fungal species that resist conventional endodontic instrumentation are predictive of long-term outcome of treatment. The long-term objectives of this research effort are to understand the microbial factors that could predict the development of symptoms and/or the failure of endodontic treatment, to develop more effective endodontic antimicrobial treatment modalities, that would lead to reduction in perioperative symptoms and increase in long-term tooth survival, and finally to allow a better understanding of the prognosis of endodontic treatment for practitioners and patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DE015320-01A2
Application #
6921019
Study Section
Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences Study Section (ODCS)
Program Officer
Nokta, Mostafa A
Project Start
2005-05-23
Project End
2009-03-31
Budget Start
2005-05-23
Budget End
2006-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$398,999
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
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Jungermann, Gretchen B; Burns, Krystal; Nandakumar, Renu et al. (2011) Antibiotic resistance in primary and persistent endodontic infections. J Endod 37:1337-44
Li, L; Hsiao, W W L; Nandakumar, R et al. (2010) Analyzing endodontic infections by deep coverage pyrosequencing. J Dent Res 89:980-4
Nandakumar, R; Madayiputhiya, N; Fouad, A F (2009) Proteomic analysis of endodontic infections by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Oral Microbiol Immunol 24:347-52
Nandakumar, Renu; Whiting, Justin; Fouad, Ashraf F (2008) Identification of selected respiratory pathogens in endodontic infections. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 106:145-51
Nandakumar, Renu; Mirchandani, Raksha; Fouad, Ashraf (2007) Primer sensitivity: can it influence the results in Enterococcus faecalis prevalence studies? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 103:429-32