title: Chlorhexidine spray effects on plaque accumulation in developmentally disabled patients.
abstract: Chlorhexidine gluconate has been studied as an adjunct to standard oral hygiene techniques in developmentally disabled patients in reducing plaque accumulation. The purpose of this double blind crossover study was to determine the efficacy of two concentrations of chlorhexidine spray (0.12% and 0.06%) on plaque accumulation in developmentally disabled patients. Informed consent was obtained for 8 developmentally disabled patients 12 to 33 years of age. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups of four each. One group received twice daily 0.12% chlorhexidine spray while the other received the 0.06% chlorhexidine spray for 30 days, followed by twice daily chlorhexidine spray (0.12% and 0.06%) alternating groups, for a period of 30 days. Final plaque indices were determined. Normal oral hygiene practices continued throughout the study. Significant plaque reduction occurred with the 0.12% and 0.06% spray solutions. No significant differences occurred between the two concentrations. The results of this study suggest that twice daily chlorhexidine spray at a concentration of 0.06% is as effective in reducing plaque accumulation as a 0.12% chlorhexidine concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steelman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000379:methods*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D002710:Chlorhexidine