Feasibility of eradication of mutans streptococci from oral cavities.
OBJECTIVE
Dental caries prevention programs using chlorhexidine (CHX) have been proposed, but CHX's effect in reducing levels of mutans streptococci (S. mutans and S. sobrinus) appears to last for only a few months. The aim of this study was to attempt to eradicate mutans streptococci from the oral cavity using intensive professional mechanical tooth cleaning (PMTC) and topical application of CHX in custom-made trays.


METHODS
Seven adult dentate subjects participated in this study (mean age 53.7+/-5.6, age range 46 to 62, mean DMFT, 9.1+/-4.2). For each subject, PMTC was carried out eight times within ten days. After each PMTC, 1% CHX was applied twice to the tooth surface using custom-made trays. In addition, as home treatment, subjects were required to carry out tooth brushing three times a day, and apply 0.2% CHX in custom trays after brushing in the morning and evening. In addition, subjects rinsed with 0.2% CHX solution after lunch. Salivary levels of mutans streptococci were evaluated using Dentocult-SM at baseline and on days 9, 20, 70, 120.


RESULTS
Mutans streptococci were eradicated by day 120 from 4 of the 7 seven subjects participating in this study. Those 3 subjects still harboring mutans streptococci exhibited deep periodontal pocketing.


CONCLUSIONS
Eradication of mutans streptococci from the oral cavity is feasible using a combination of CHX application in custom-made trays and intensive PMTC.
Nomura
Yoshiaki
Y
Department of Oral Health, National Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan. nomura-y@tsurumi-u.ac.jp
Takeuchi
Hiroaki
H
Kaneko
Noboru
N
Matin
Khairul
K
Iguchi
Ritsuko
R
Toyoshima
Yoshihiro
Y
Kono
Yoshiharu
Y
Ikemi
Takuji
T
Imai
Susumu
S
Nishizawa
Toshiki
T
Fukushima
Kazuo
K
Hanada
Nobuhiro
N
D000368:Aged; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine