A preliminary comparison of the effect of 0.3% versus 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse on de novo plaque formation: a monocentre randomized double-blind crossover trial

• Published in: International journal of dental hygiene 2013-08, Vol.11 (3), p.198-202
• Main Authors: Pilloni, A, Zeza, B, Mongardini, C, Dominici, F, Cassini, MA, Polimeni, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - administration & dosage; Antimicrobial agents; chlorhexidine; Chlorhexidine - administration & dosage; Colony Count, Microbial; Comparative studies; Cross-Over Studies; Dental Plaque - prevention & control; Dental Plaque Index; Dentistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; gingivitis; Humans; Microbiology; Mouthwashes - administration & dosage; oral antiseptics; Oral hygiene; plaque formation; Statistics, Nonparametric; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taste; Toiletry products
• ISSN: 1601-5029; 1601-5037
• DOI: 10.1111/idh.12007

Objective Chlorhexidine (CHX) is considered the gold standard against gram‐negative microorganisms. Little has been written about the simultaneous influence that both time and concentration could have on antiplaque formation effectiveness of CHX. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and microbiological effectiveness of two different CHX concentrations and time applications in a 4‐day plaque regrowth study model. Material and methods Twenty volunteers were enrolled in a randomized double‐blind crossover study comparing the effectiveness of CHX 0.3% and CHX 0.2% mouth rinses applied for 15 and 30 s, respectively. Plaque index (PII), total bacterial counts and the detection of specific periopathogens were measured at the 5th day of each mouth rinse application. Taste acceptance was evaluated using a questionnaire. Results Chlorhexidine 0.3% resulted in a statistically greater reductions (10%) in PIl and periopathogens compared to CHX 0.2%. Furthermore, patients reported comparable taste acceptance in both groups. Conclusion Chlorhexidine is an effective oral antiseptic. The CHX 0.3% mouth rinse formulation used for 15 s resulted in superior clinical and microbiological outcomes compared to the CHX 0.2% formulation, used for 30 s.