Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41822979›Full record

ArticleInternational endodontic journal2026

A Comparison of Endodontic Microbiomes Associated With Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis by Next-Generation Sequencing.

David Donnermeyer, Edgar Schäfer, Daniel Hagenfeld, Benjamin Ehmke, Karola Prior, Dag Harmsen, Madgalena Ibing, Sebastian Bürklein, Thomas Gerhard Wolf, Johannes Matern

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in International endodontic journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

David DonnermeyerDepartment of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7162-9795
Edgar SchäferCentral Interdisciplinary Ambulance in the School of Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4443-2345
Daniel HagenfeldDepartment of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1072-4865
Benjamin EhmkeDepartment of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2418-6765
Karola PriorDepartment of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Dag HarmsenDepartment of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Madgalena IbingDepartment of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Sebastian BürkleinCentral Interdisciplinary Ambulance in the School of Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4886-4759
Thomas Gerhard WolfDepartment of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4044-1893
Johannes MaternDepartment of Periodontology and Operative Dentistry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0679-5759

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThis cross-sectional study aimed to compare the endodontic microbiome assessed from root canals of teeth associated with either symptomatic or asymptomatic apical periodontitis and analysed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. METHODOLOGY: 60 teeth presenting clinical and radiographic signs of symptomatic or asymptomatic apical periodontitis (n = 30) were included in this cross-sectional study after participants had given their written informed consent. After isolation with rubber dam, disinfection and access cavity preparation, glide paths were prepared using C-Pilot Files and K-Files under electronic root canal length control. Microbial samples were collected from a total of 120 root canals (symptomatic apical periodontitis, SAP: n = 62, asymptomatic apical periodontitis, AAP: n = 58) each with a sterile file (size 20/0.06) in a single length technique. Only one specimen per tooth was included in the analysis; in multi-rooted teeth, the specimen with highest sequencing depth. After DNA extraction, the hypervariable region V4 of the bacterial 16 S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced (Illumina MiSeq). Taxonomy was assigned based on the expanded Human Oral Microbiome Database (eHOMD). Statistical analysis of diversity parameters comprised Mann-Whitney U tests and PERMANOVA. Compositional differences were evaluated by differential abundance analyses using DESeq2, LinDA, and ANCOM-BC2 methods.

resultsNo differences were observed in richness and diversity (Shannon diversity index) on the genus or ASV level (p > 0.05). According to PERMANOVA, SAP and AAP microbiomes did not differ significantly both on genus and ASV levels (p > 0.05). Among highly abundant genera, Fusobacterium was indicated to be more abundant in SAP samples whereas Actinomyces was more abundant in AAP samples.

conclusionsThe expression of clinical symptoms in apical periodontitis does not appear to be determined by specific microorganisms but may instead reflect shifts of the relative abundance of the microbial community.

Indexed as

Dental Pulp CavityHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingMicrobiotaPeriapical PeriodontitisAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRNA, Ribosomal, 16SRNA, Ribosomal, 16Sasymptomatic apical periodontitismicrobiomenext‐generation sequencingsymptomatic apical periodontitis

Identifiers

PMID41822979
PMCPMC13373031

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.