REVIEW Consequences of and strategies to deal with residual post-treatment root canal infection

and strategies to deal with residual post-treatment root canal infection. International Endodontic Journal, 39, 343–356, 2006. Bacterial sampling of prepared root canals is used to determine the presence and character of the remaining microbiota. However, it is likely that current sampling techniques only identify organisms in the main bran-ches of the root canal system whereas it is unlikely that they can sample areas beyond the apical end-point of preparation and filling, or in lateral canals, canal extensions, apical ramifications, isthmuses and within dentinal tubules. Thus, it may be impossible by current techniques to identify residual post-treatment root canal infection.In histologic observations of root apices, bacteria have been found in inaccessible inter-canal isthmuses and accessory canals often in the form o