Novel Approaches to Detect and Treat Biofilms within the Root Canals of Teeth: A Review
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland School of Dentistry, UQ Oral Health Centre, 288 Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
Antibiotics 2020, 9(3), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9030129
Received: 7 February 2020 / Revised: 11 March 2020 / Accepted: 19 March 2020 / Published: 20 March 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biofilm Infections — Time Bomb in Antibiotic Therapy)
Biofilms located within the root canals of teeth are a unique and pressing concern in dentistry and in medical microbiology. These multispecies biofilms, which include fungi as well as bacteria, form in a protected site with low shear stress and low oxygen tension. Systemic antibiotics are of limited value because of the lack of blood flow of the site, and issues with innate and acquired resistance. Physical disruption using hand or rotary powered instruments does not reach all locations in the root canal system where biofilms are present. Alternative strategies including agitated irrigation fluids, continuous chelation, materials with highly alkaline pH, and antimicrobial nanoparticles are being explored to meet the challenge. Detection and quantification of biofilms using fluorescence-based optical methods could provide an indication of successful biofilm removal and an endpoint for physical and chemical treatments.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Walsh, L.J. Novel Approaches to Detect and Treat Biofilms within the Root Canals of Teeth: A Review. Antibiotics 2020, 9, 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9030129
AMA Style
Walsh LJ. Novel Approaches to Detect and Treat Biofilms within the Root Canals of Teeth: A Review. Antibiotics. 2020; 9(3):129. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9030129
Chicago/Turabian StyleWalsh, Laurence J. 2020. "Novel Approaches to Detect and Treat Biofilms within the Root Canals of Teeth: A Review" Antibiotics 9, no. 3: 129. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9030129
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