A qualitative and semiquantitative SEM study of the morphology of the biofilm on root surfaces of human teeth with endodontic‑periodontal lesions

Rusu,Darian; Stratul,Stefan-Ioan; Calniceanu,Horia; Boariu,Marius; Ogodescu,Alexandru; Milicescu,Stefan; Didilescu,Andreea; Roman,Alexandra; Surlin,Petra; Locovei,Cosmin; Chiperi,Monica; Solomon,Sorina; Nica,Luminita

doi:10.3892/etm.2020.9331

A qualitative and semiquantitative SEM study of the morphology of the biofilm on root surfaces of human teeth with endodontic‑periodontal lesions

Authors:
- Darian Rusu
- Stefan-Ioan Stratul
- Horia Calniceanu
- Marius Boariu
- Alexandru Ogodescu
- Stefan Milicescu
- Andreea Didilescu
- Alexandra Roman
- Petra Surlin
- Cosmin Locovei
- Monica Chiperi
- Sorina Solomon
- Luminita Nica
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Affiliations: Department of Periodontology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania, Department of Endodontics, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania, Department of Pedodontics, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania, Department of Prosthodontics, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania, Department of Embryology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania, Department of Periodontology, ‘Iuliu Hatieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj‑Napoca, Romania, Department of Periodontology, University of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania, Department of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timisoara 300006, Romania, Private Practice, D‑80539 Munich, Germany, Department of Periodontology, ‘Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700020 Iasi, Romania
Published online on: October 14, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.9331
Article Number: 201
Copyright: © Rusu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Over the last decades, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved to be invaluable for ultrastructural investigation, allowing imaging of the overall appearance and/or specific features of oral biofilms, e.g., microbial colonies and individual cells, glycocalyx, the presence of inorganic products. The aim of this study was the observation and evaluation of the morphology of the biofilm of endodontic‑periodontal lesions (EPL) with a modified protocol involving a simplified histologic sample preparation and a low‑vacuum SEM examination method. Twenty‑one teeth with endodontic‑periodontal involvement, extracted for periodontal reasons, were carefully washed with saline, underwent fixation in modified Karnovsky solution and were dehydrated in alcohol series. Samples were examined under low‑vacuum SEM. Radicular surfaces were evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively for several characteristics, including the presence of bacterial types, the biofilm morphology and the content of root resorptions. Radicular surfaces were divided in four conventional zones Surfaces were evaluated for several characteristics: Presence of bacterial types, biofilm morphology, presence of root resorptions. High‑quality images, relevant for endodontic‑periodontal biofilms were collected. Continuous, established biofilm was found on all examined surfaces, its detection varying from 19% of the samples on the wall of cemental cone to 52.3% on the radicular surface of the periodontal pocket. Observed microorganisms included cocci, rods an filaments. Spirils and motile bacteria were only accidentally found. SEM investigation of surfaces involved in EPL revealed less surfaces covered by mature biofilm (in only 28.5% of the samples in the ‘transition zone’), especially rods and filaments associated with cemental resorptions and calculus. Biofilm elements were better represented in periodontal pockets than in other zones of EPL (detected in up to 81% of the samples). A strong correlation between mature biofilm and the presence of cocci appears on all investigated zones (P<0.01). Microbiota appeared to be morphologically similar in apical and periodontal areas, especially in old EPL.

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