title: A review of the efficacy of chlorhexidine on dental caries and the caries infection.
abstract: Chlorhexidine has been used for the past 35 years in the treatment of the two primary diseases of dentistry with varying degrees of success. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature for both the caries reduction potential and the microbiologic reduction of the pathogens associated with dental caries. The literature remains mixed on the success of chlorhexidine for the reduction of dental caries. Its performance as an antimicrobial against Streptococcus mutans is more consistent and favorable.
authors.affiliation: Washington Dental Service, Seattle 98115, USA. manderson@ddpwa.com
authors.forename: Maxwell H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine