CLINICAL VISUALIZATION OF ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS ENDOODONTIC BIOFILM THROUGH FLUORESCENCE USING TWO FLUOROPHORS

Abstract

Some bacteria, such as Enterococcus faecalis, are more resistant to endodontic procedures, being able to survive in the root canal system. Bacteria remaining inside the root canals, can lead to persistent infections, unsuccessful treatments or even tooth extraction. There is a great difficulty in clinically identifying the biofilm and bacteria within the root canal system. Thus, fluorescence rises as a new method to reduce the problem of clinical visualization of the endodontic infection. This study evaluated, by means of fluorescence and the use of fluorophores, the presence of Enterococcus faecalis inside the root canals. Eighteen bovine teeth, with a single canal, were selected. Teeth were decoronate, close to the cementoenamel junction, with a length equal to 16mm. Longitudinal grooves were made on the buccal and palatal surfaces of the samples and cleaning and preparation was performed with ultrasound. Root canals were infected with Enterococcus faecalis and incubated for 29 days for biofilm development, with renewal of the culture medium every 48 hours. After this period, teeth were divided into 3 groups: negative control, calcein group and qubit protein group. Teeth were clinically visualized using the ReVeal system, consisting in a 2.5x magnifying glass with an Ultraviolet photophore, allowing the observation of the fluorophores effectiveness in canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis. It was observed that both fluorophores were effective in the presence of bacteria. Negative control group did not fluoresce. Calcein had greater luminosity but showed light scattering. Qubit protein had an uniform luminescence, without image scattering.