title: A two-year randomized clinical trial of chlorhexidine varnish on dental caries in Chinese preschool children.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of six-monthly professional applications of chlorhexidine varnish on the prevention of dental caries in primary molars in Chinese preschool children. In a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 334 children aged 4-5 years were randomly divided into two groups. Children in the test group received six-monthly applications of a 40% chlorhexidine varnish, and the control children received a placebo varnish. Caries status of the children was assessed by two calibrated examiners at baseline and after 24 months, according to criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. The two-year mean caries increments in the test and the control group children were 1.0 and 1.6 decayed, missing, or filled molar surfaces (dmfs-molar), respectively, a 37.3% reduction (t test, p = 0.036). No side-effects were found. It was concluded that six-monthly applications of chlorhexidine varnish were effective in reducing the incidence of dental caries in primary molars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: M Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: E C M
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000187:drug effects; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D002710:Chlorhexidine