Published online Aug 16, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i23.6846
Peer-review started: April 14, 2021
First decision: May 11, 2021
Revised: May 24, 2021
Accepted: June 4, 2021
Article in press: June 4, 2021
Published online: August 16, 2021
A palatal radicular groove is an unusual developmental deformity of the tooth, which may serve as a channel linking the periodontal and periapical inflammation, and yet no literature could be obtained analyzing microbiota within the palatal radicular grooves.
Four patients diagnosed with palatal radicular groove and concomitant periodontal-endodontic deformity in permanent maxillary lateral incisors were enrolled in this work. Twelve bacterial samples from 4 patients were collected from different parts of the palatal radicular groove during intentional replantation surgery. Illumina sequencing was performed to analyze the taxonomical composition and microbiome structure inside the palatal grooves, and 1162 operational taxonomic units were obtained. The phyla of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria predominated in most of the samples. An unknown genus from the Bacillaceae family, Lactococcus, and Porphyromonas were the most abundant genera identified. There was no difference in the microbiota richness and diversity in three sections of the groove.
The unique ecological niches inside the palatal grooves harbored bacterial communities that shared some component features of both the endodontic and periodontal infections. The existence of palatal groove may play an interaction bridge between the root apex and tooth cervix and thus impair the outcome of traditional therapeutic methods such as root canal treatment and periodontal management.
Core Tip: Microbial communities dwelling in the palatal grooves are as complex as those related to endodontic and periodontal infections. The existence of palatal groove may bridge interactions between the root apex and dental cervix and thus impair the outcome of traditional therapeutic methods such as root canal treatment and periodontal management.