Bacteria in the cavity-restoration interface after varying periods of clinical service - SEM description of distribution and 16S rRNA gene sequence identification of isolates.

Objectives: To use extracted human teeth with amalgam (n = 26) or GIC (n = 3) restorations in service up to 20 years to evaluate microbiota at the cavity/restoration interface by SEM or culture.

Materials And Methods: Extracted teeth with intracoronal restorations (n = 20) of known history (2-20 years) were fixed, split, and prepared for SEM to ascertain the pattern and structure of bacterial aggregates on cavity and restoration surfaces. Another 9 teeth were anaerobically decontaminated, split and sampled (cavity/restorations), and cultured (anaerobically, aerobically); recovered isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.