TITLE:
The effect of chlorhexidine on plaque index and mutans streptococci in orthodontic patients: A pilot study
AUTHORS:
Gisele Faria, Milton Santamaria Jr., Bianca Mota dos Santos, Izabel Yoko Ito, Janete Cinira Bregagnoloq, Maria Bernadete Sasso Stuani
KEYWORDS:
Chlorhexidine; Self-Polymerising Acrylic; Removable Orthodontic Appliances; Mutans Streptococci; Plaque Index
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Stomatology,
Vol.3 No.6,
September
2,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess chlorhexidine effects on plaque index and
salivary levels of mutans streptococci (MS) when used as the immersion
solution for removable orthodontic appliances and added to their acrylic resin
composition. Methods: Forty-five
patients (6 to 12 years old) were randomly assigned into three groups with 15
patients each. Group I (control)—without orthodontic appliances disinfection; Group II—removable orthodontic appliances which had been immersed in 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate overnight
(8 hours), and Group III—orthodontic appliances in which 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate solution
had been incorporated into their resin composition. Saliva was collected for
quantification of MS and evaluation
of plaque index was performed before and after installation of orthodontic appliance at 0, 2, 4, 6,
8, and 10 weeks. Data were analyzed by using analysis of variance. Results:
Number of MS colonies in saliva and
plaque index showed no statistically differences among groups at the different
periods (p > 0.05). Conclusions:
It could be concluded that chlorhexidine incorporation into the acrylic resin
of removable orthodontic appliances at 0.12% concentration and immersion of the
appliance
into 0.12% chlorhexidine solution were not effective in reducing plaque index and the number of MS in saliva.