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Direct measurement of the bactericidal effect of chlorhexidine on human dental plaque
Author(s) -
Netuschil L.,
Reich E.,
Brecx M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1989.tb02324.x
Subject(s) - chlorhexidine , dental plaque , bacteria , dentistry , microbiology and biotechnology , staining , chemistry , medicine , biology , pathology , genetics
The purpose of the present study was to determine by means of a fluorescence test the ratio between vital and dead bacteria in dental plaque before and after 0.1 % chlorhexidine rinses. Plaque was stained by fluoresceindiacetate (FDA), which gave a green color to the living micro‐organisms, and by ethidiumbromide (EB), which introduced a red color into the nucleic acids of the dead bacteria. 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐day‐old undisturbed plaque harbored 80 to 85% living micro‐organisms. 1 h after chlorhexidine use, this % was reduced to a plateau of 19 to 34% of vital bacteria present in the sampled plaque. Between 6 and 8 h later, this % rose towards its original value. This study has shown that FDA/EB staining provides a method for direct measurement of bacteria vitality in dental plaque and, as such, can be of great value for testing the efficacy of various antiplaque agents.