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Effect of chlorhexidine gel treatment on the prevalence of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in patients with impaired salivary secretion rate
Author(s) -
Bondestam Olof,
Gahnberg Lars,
Sund MarieLouise,
Linder Lars
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1996.tb00845.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chlorhexidine , antimicrobial , dentistry , saliva , streptococcus mutans , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , genetics , biology
The potential pathogenic role of mutans streptococci in the etiology of dental caries is well‐documented. Mutans streptococci are sensitive to chlorhexidine (CHX), and several methods for the clinical use of CHX have been described. An important target group for caries‐preventive measures is patients with impaired salivary secretion due to the use of therapeutic drugs such as psy‐chotropics. The aim of the present study was to compare two methods for antimicrobial treatment in such patients. Twenty‐four volunteering patients at a hospital clinic were randomly divided into three groups: Group A, in which each participant was treated with 1.0% CHX gel in gel trays on two consecutive days, followed by application of a fluoride varnish; Group 6, in which the patients were treated with the same CHX gel as above; and Group C, which was used as a control. After treatment, there was a reduction of mutans streptococci in the two groups treated with CHX. In group A, the sames collected one, three, and five weeks after the treatment were significantly lower than baseline values. No clearcut reduction of the number of mutans streptococci was observed in the subjects not treated with CHX. These data indicate that treatment with CHX gel in gel trays is superior to polishing the teeth with CHX gel. From a clinical point of view, our observations suggest that it is important to monitor the effect of antimicrobial treatment individually in order to optimize preventive programs in patients with impaired salivary secretion.