title: Effect of different 1% chlorhexidine varnish regimens on mutans streptococci levels in saliva and dental biofilm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate in a randomized controlled study the effect of different 1% chlorhexidine (CHX) varnish regimens on levels of mutans streptococci (MS) in saliva and dental biofilm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with MS < or = 10(5) CFU/ml saliva, 11-16 years old, were allocated into four groups: Group A (n = 14): one 1% CHX varnish application; Group B (n = 14): 1% CHX varnish was applied once daily on 3 consecutive days; Group C (n = 15): 1% CHX varnish was applied three times with an interval of 4 days between each application; and Group D (n = 12): placebo varnish was applied once daily on 3 consecutive days. Saliva and dental biofilm samples were collected at baseline and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after the final varnish application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 week, a slight reduction in salivary levels of MS in Groups A, B, and C (-0.70, -0.90, and -0.41 log10 CFU/ml saliva, respectively) was observed, significant only in Groups A and B (P < 0.05). No difference in salivary levels of MS was observed between the experimental groups in the different experimental periods. After 1 week in the dental biofilm a significant increase in total bacterial counts was observed in all experimental groups while a significant decrease in the levels of MS was observed only in Group A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492, Bom Fim, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Gazaniga Maia
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Lina Naomi
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maltz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018441:Biofilms; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*; D013943:Thymol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; C079161:chlorhexidine, thymol drug combination; D013943:Thymol; D002710:Chlorhexidine