Persistent Apical Periodontitis: Bacterial Taxonomic Analysis and Treatment Through Intentional Replantation

Abstract

Introduction: The microorganisms own different resistance mechanisms that allow them to resist the chemo-mechanical cleanliness of root canal and antibiotic therapies causing the persistence of apical lesions. Methods: This clinical case describes a male patient diagnosed with pulp necrosis in the right lower central incisor due to trauma, which developed apical periodontitis manifesting itself extra orally. Root canal treatment along with antibiotic therapy was performed, but because the infectious process persisted, endodontic retreatment and a new antibiotic therapy were carried out, however, the clinical evolution was not favorable. For this reason, the intentional replantation was chosen as the outright treatment, performing apicectomy and curettage of the periapical lesion, from which the isolation and taxonomic study of microorganisms were carried out, with the respective antibiogram. Results: In the 10-day clinical follow-up, the extraoral infectious process disappeared almost completely and 6 months later, a complete repair of the bone tissue was observed on the tomography. Conclusion: A better understanding of the persistence of apical periodontitis was achieved by taxonomic identification of bacteria and the intentional replantation allowed to remove the apical biofilm gaining an excellent wound healing.