Resumen

ESTRELA, Carlos; SYDNEY, Gilson Blitzkow; FIGUEIREDO, José Antonio Poli  y  ESTRELA, Cyntia Rodrigues de Araújo. A model system to study antimicrobial strategies in endodontic biofilms. J. Appl. Oral Sci. [online]. 2009, vol.17, n.2, pp. 87-91. ISSN 1678-7757.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1678-77572009000200003.

The purpose of this work was to develop a model system to study antimicrobial strategies in endodontic biofilms. Enterococcus faecalis suspension was colonized in 10 human root canals. Five milliliters of Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) were mixed with 5 mL of the bacterial inoculums (E. faecalis) and inoculated with sufficient volume to fill the root canal during 60 days. This procedure was repeated every 72 h, always using 24-h pure culture prepared and adjusted to No. 1 MacFarland turbidity standard. Biofilm formation was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). E. faecalis consistently adhered to collagen structure, colonized dentin surface, progressed towards the dentinal tubules and formed a biofilm. The proposed biofilm model seems to be viable for studies on antimicrobial strategies, and allows for a satisfactory colonization time of selected bacterial species with virulence and adherence properties.

Palabras llave : Biofilm; Endodontic biofilm; Enterococcus faecalis; Intracanal medicaments; Antimicrobial strategies.