Residing Bacterial Flora Pertaining to Root Canals and Associated Periodontal Pocket

In the present study the flora form root canals and adjacent periodontal pockets of teeth with advanced periodontal disease were examined in order to compare the microbial flora from both sites. Three samples were collected from each of the twelve patients, one from the root canal and two from adjacent pocket at two different sites, criteria for inclusion in the survey were, minimum of 5 mm pocket depth, intact clinical crowns and lack of peri apical lesion. The study has demonstrated that the micro organism present in root canals of caries free teeth with advanced periodontitis generally resemble those found in adjacent periodontal pockets. The similarity in recovery of organisms suggests that the pocket could be the source of root canal infection in cases of advanced periodontitis.