Impact of chlorhexidine mouth rinse use on postextraction infection via nitric oxide pathway.
OBJECTIVE
Nitric oxide (NO) has been linked to inflammatory reactions, tissue destruction, host defense, and wound healing in oral diseases. It is known that arginase enzyme controls the synthesis of NO through arginine depletion. This study evaluated the arginase-NO pathway alteration in response to tissue injury after dental extraction surgery and the effect of postoperative use of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate rinse (CHX).


METHODS
This study included 28 individuals who had impacted mandibular third molars. They were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was comprised of 13 individuals who used postoperative CHX (0.2%) rinse, while group B included 15 individuals who did not use postoperative CHX rinse. For each patient, periodontal inflammatory status was evaluated. Salivary and gingival tissue samples were obtained before and 1 h and 1 week after the surgery to determine the NO level and arginase activity using spectrophotometric methods.


RESULTS
NO level of tissue samples displayed an insignificant decrease in both groups postoperatively. However, arginase activity of tissue samples was significantly higher in group B compared to group A 1 week after surgery (p <or= 0.01). There were no significant changes in salivary arginase activity and NO level in both groups before or after the third molar surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that good oral hygiene following periodontal treatment prior to third molar surgery was related to an increase in arginase activity, which may improve wound healing. However, use of CHX rinse following periodontal treatment had no pronounced effect on the arginase-NO pathway.
Ozmeric
Nurdan
N
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Biskek caddesi 84 sokak, Emek, 06510 Ankara, Turkey. nurdan@gazi.edu.tr
Mollaoglu
Nur
N
Elgun
Serenay
S
Devrim
Erdinc
E
D000328:Adult; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000473:pathology; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D009067:Mouthwashes; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001119:Arginase; D002710:Chlorhexidine