Effectiveness of chlorhexidine-thymol varnish in preventing caries lesions in primary molars.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine-thymol varnish on the prevention of caries lesions in primary molars among schoolchildren ages 6 to 7 in relation to their previous experience with caries.


METHODS
Two groups of schoolchildren of lower-middle socioeconomic level were followed up in a clinical trial: one group of 86 children, treated with a chlorhexidine-thymol varnish (Cervitec) and another group of 95 children who served as controls. The varnish was reapplied every 3 months, and the caries lesion increments were compared at 24 months.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference between these 2 groups in the increment in decayed and filled primary molars. The children in the varnish group with no decayed or filled primary teeth at baseline showed a significantly lower (P<.05) incidence of caries lesions in primary molars (at 24 months) compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlorhexidine-thymol varnish can be said to reduce caries lesions in the primary molars of schoolchildren ages 6 to 7 with no previous caries lesion experience.
Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. pbaca@ugr.es
Pilar
P
Baca
Maria José
MJ
Muñoz
Manuel
M
Bravo
Pilar
P
Junco
Adela P
AP
Baca
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D010150:Paint; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013943:Thymol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C079161:chlorhexidine, thymol drug combination; D013943:Thymol; D002710:Chlorhexidine