Introduction: This study evaluated the relative abundance and ribosomal activity of selected bacteria in carious dentin of teeth with different pulp conditions.
Methods: Thirty healthy patients with class I occlusal caries in molars were categorized into 3 groups based on the pulp diagnosis: normal pulp (NP, n = 10) with caries extending less than half the thickness of dentin (as assessed radiographically), reversible pulpitis (n = 10), and symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (n = 10) with caries extending more than two thirds of the thickness of dentin. Carious dentin samples were collected from the deepest part of the cavity and stored in RNAlater solution (Ambion Inc, Austin, TX).