Exploring the root canal microbiome in previously treated teeth: A comparative study of diversity and metabolic pathways across two geographical locations

Abstract

Aim: To analyse and compare the root canal microbiome present in root-filled teeth of two different geographical populations, and to study their functional potential using a next-generation sequencing approach. Methodology: Sequencing data obtained from surgical specimens from previously treated teeth with periapical bone loss from Spain and USA were included in the study. Taxa were classified using SILVA v.138 database. Differences in genera abundances among the 10 most abundant genera were evaluated using a Kruskal–Wallis test. Alpha diversity indices were calculated in mothur. The Shannon and Chao1 indices were used. Analyses of similarity (ANOSIM) to determine differences in community composition were done in mothur, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. p-Values