M G Khabbaz1, P L Anastasiadis, S N Sykaras. 1. Department of Endodontics, Dental School, University of Athens, 2 Thivon Street, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece. mhabbaz@cc.uoa.gr
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this investigation were to determine the presence or absence of endotoxins in the pulp of symptomatic and symptom-free human carious teeth, to quantify the amount of endotoxins present, and to associate the presence of endotoxins with the acute pulpal pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pulpal tissue was sampled from 28 single-rooted carious teeth (15 symptomatic, 13 symptom-free) derived from 28 patients. Samples were also taken from the pulp of 5 noncarious control teeth. During sampling an effort was made to collect an equal weight of pulpal tissue in all cases (approximately 8 mg). The extraction of endotoxins was performed with the use of phenol-water. The assay and quantitative determination of endotoxins was performed with the use of a limulus lysate test. The data were analyzed statistically by using the independent t test. RESULTS: Endotoxins were detected in pulpal tissues of all carious teeth in the symptomatic (mean average, 0.15773 ng/mL; SD = 0.045811) and symptom-free group (mean average, 0.10723 ng/mL; SD = 0.010925). In noncarious control teeth, endotoxins were not detected. The presence of endotoxins was significantly higher in the group of symptomatic teeth than in the group of symptom-free teeth (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of endotoxins in the pulpal tissue of all the carious teeth indicates that they may play a major role in the pathogenesis of human pulpal diseases. Since a significantly higher level of endotoxins was detected in the pulp of symptomatic carious teeth than in that of symptom-free carious teeth, an association of endotoxins levels with severity of pulpal pain is probable.
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this investigation were to determine the presence or absence of endotoxins in the pulp of symptomatic and symptom-free humancarious teeth, to quantify the amount of endotoxins present, and to associate the presence of endotoxins with the acute pulpal pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pulpal tissue was sampled from 28 single-rooted carious teeth (15 symptomatic, 13 symptom-free) derived from 28 patients. Samples were also taken from the pulp of 5 noncarious control teeth. During sampling an effort was made to collect an equal weight of pulpal tissue in all cases (approximately 8 mg). The extraction of endotoxins was performed with the use of phenol-water. The assay and quantitative determination of endotoxins was performed with the use of a limulus lysate test. The data were analyzed statistically by using the independent t test. RESULTS: Endotoxins were detected in pulpal tissues of all carious teeth in the symptomatic (mean average, 0.15773 ng/mL; SD = 0.045811) and symptom-free group (mean average, 0.10723 ng/mL; SD = 0.010925). In noncarious control teeth, endotoxins were not detected. The presence of endotoxins was significantly higher in the group of symptomatic teeth than in the group of symptom-free teeth (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of endotoxins in the pulpal tissue of all the carious teeth indicates that they may play a major role in the pathogenesis of humanpulpal diseases. Since a significantly higher level of endotoxins was detected in the pulp of symptomatic carious teeth than in that of symptom-free carious teeth, an association of endotoxins levels with severity of pulpal pain is probable.