Perfil microbiológico de dentes permanentes portadores de necrose pulpar pós-trauma

Abstract

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) often result in pulp necrosis and endodontic infections, but their microbial ecology remains poorly defined. This study investigated the root canal microbiota of permanent teeth with post-traumatic pulp necrosis using 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing. A total of 62 teeth from 56 patients aged 6–39 years were analyzed. Teeth were classified by trauma type: avulsion with or without crown fracture, and non-avulsive injuries with or without crown fracture. It was hypothesized that post-traumatic infections share a core microbiome while also exhibiting trauma-specific microbial profiles. Samples were collected under aseptic conditions and processed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Microbial composition and diversity were compared across groups using taxonomic profiling and alpha/beta diversity analyses. Sequencing produced 6,933,077 reads, identifying 850 bacterial taxa (mean richness: 97.8 ± 39.7 per sample). Anaerobic bacteria predominated. Fusobacterium nucleatum was the most abundant taxon, with Campylobacter, Parvimonas, Treponema, and Porphyromonas also frequently detected. Alpha diversity showed no significant differences among trauma groups. PCoA demonstrated partial overlap with some group-specific clustering. Numerous low-abundance and uncultured taxa contributed to overall complexity. The analysis revealed both shared and distinct microbial features across trauma types. These findings expand current knowledge of traumatized root canal microbiota and may inform targeted treatment strategies for clinical management.