The Spirochetes can be more Significant to Patients than Streptococcus Bacteria in Dental Infection

Compared to streptococcal infections, spirochetesPrice pointed out to his colleagues at the Research
are represented in only a small percent of the totalInstitute that severe tooth decay areas which
number of dental infections. Even less involved, butexposed the pulp could provide an entry way
nevertheless significant to patients when they occur,through the teeth into the body for the tuberculosis
are infections from parasites.bacillus.
Dr. Price reported a case in which a woman patientBy traveling through the root canal into adjacent
had a huge abscess in her neck from a fistula of atissue, bacteria could be picked up by the lymphatic
lower infected molar tooth. Even after the tooth wassystem and transported to the lymph grands of the
extracted, the chronic abscess resisted treatmentneck, and from there to other body areas. Enlarged
efforts for many weeks. A bacterial examinationcervical glands persisting for periods off time seemed
disclosed the presence of a large number of amoeba.to miraculously disappear when infected teeth were
Treatment for amoebic parasites promptly stoppedremoved from patients, proving that bacteria do
the infection. On the following page are pictures oftravel from the tooth to the neck.
this woman's condition: the fistula training under herTuberculosis became a reasonably easy disease to
chin, an x-ray picture showing her teeth and thetreat when antibiotics arrived. Now, however, TB is
infected tooth socket, plus a microscopic slide pictureagain attacking more and more people - and
of the amoeba parasites causing her distress.customary treatments are no longer effective. The
Amoeba were also found to nearly always bebacteria are mutating, changing their form and
present in pyorrhea gum pockets, and in at least onecharacteristics, much like what Price found to be
instance the parasite had penetrated into theoccurring with organisms in dentin tubules.
adjacent bone. It is hoped that learning of theMost people know that certain bacterial infections can
presence of such organisms and the local andbe transmitted to others, such as scarlet fever,
systemic harm they can cause will stimulate alldiphtheria, etc. Most also know that a person can be
readers to seek regular, competent prophylaxis carea carrier and transmit a disease without himself being
by a dentist or dental hygienist every three to sixill of the disease. Do you suppose that those who
months.have badly decayed teeth would be more apt to be
While the foremost difficulties investigated by Pricecarriers of bacterial infections? Don't you suppose
concerned infections in the root canal and otherthat these people would also be more susceptible to
tooth parts involving streptococcus organisms, in thisbecoming seriously infected themselves?
chapter we have tried to point out some otherThe most prevalent organisms which inhabit the
organisms that can be responsible for systemicmouth were discussed and it was stated that of the
disease.10 varieties of streptococcus bacteria, the "fecalis"
Bacteria can also be involved via the mouth in a fewfamily was predominant in 65 1/2 percent of the
other ways. At the time of the Dr. Price studies,cases tested.
tuberculosis was a rather common serious illness. Dr.Copyright (c) 2007 Sung Lee, and George Meinig D.D.