title: Effect of sustained-release chlorhexidine varnish on Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus in orthodontic patients.
abstract: This study evaluated the effect of sustained-release chlorhexidine varnish on orthodontic patients. Ten children, ages 10 to 16 years, participated. Bacterial levels of Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus and total counts were evaluated in sputum samples. These counts were evaluated at 4 stages: before orthodontic treatment, at least 2 weeks after bonding of the brackets, 1 week after application of chlorhexidine varnish, and 3 weeks after application of chlorhexidine varnish. Increases in bacterial levels of S mutans and in the total bacterial count were detected after the brackets were bonded. One week after the sustained-release chlorhexidine varnish was applied, a significant decrease of total bacterial levels and S mutans was observed. This decrease persisted for 3 weeks after the first application. No significant change in A viscosus levels occurred during that period. The results provide additional evidence that sustained-release chlorhexidine varnish decreases S mutans levels in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances and therefore might be useful in preventing caries lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beyth
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Redlich
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harari
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D016924:Actinomyces viscosus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D010150:Paint; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002710:Chlorhexidine