The fate of DNA from dead cells is an important issue when interpreting results from root canal infections analysed by the PCR technique. DNA from dead bacterial cells is known to be detectable long time after cell death and its stability is dependent on many different factors. This work investigated factors found in the root canal that could affect the recovery of microbial DNA. In an ex vivo experiment, DNA from non-viable gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis was inoculated in instrumented root canals and recovery of DNA was assessed by PCR over a two-year period. DNA was still recoverable two years after cell death in 21/25 teeth. The fate of DNA from the gram-negative bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum and the gram-positive Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was assessed in vitro. DNA from dead F. nucleatum and P. anaerobius could be detected by PCR six months post cell death even though it was clear that the DNA was released from the cells due to lost of cell wall integrity during the experimental period. The decomposition rate of extracellular DNA was compared to cell-bound and it was evident that DNA still located inside the bacterium was much less prone to decay than extracellular DNA. Free (extracellular) DNA is very prone to decay in a naked form. Binding to minerals is known to protect DNA from degradation. The fate of extracellular DNA was assessed after binding to ceramic hydroxyapatite and dentine. The data showed that free DNA, bound to these materials, was protected from spontaneous decay and from enzymatic decomposition by nucleases. The main conclusions from this thesis were: i) DNA from dead bacteria can be detected by PCR years after cell death ex vivo and in vitro. ii) Cell-bound DNA is less prone to decomposition than extracellular DNA. iii) DNA is released from the bacterium some time after cell death. iv) Extracellular DNA bound to hydroxyapatite or dentine is protected from spontaneous decomposition and enzymatic degradation.