title: Effect of chlorhexidine on denture biofilm accumulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adequate denture hygiene can prevent and treat infection in edentulous patients, who are frequently elderly and have difficulty brushing their teeth. This study evaluated the efficacy of complete denture biofilm removal using a chlorhexidine solution in two concentrations: 0.12% and 2.0%.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty complete denture wearers participated in a trial for 21 days after receiving brushing instructions. They were distributed into three groups, according to the tested solution and regimen (n = 20): (G1) Control (daily overnight soaking in water); (G2) daily immersion at home in 0.12% chlorhexidine for 20 minutes after dinner; and (G3) a single immersion in 2.0% chlorhexidine for 5 minutes at the end of the experimental period, performed by a professional. Biofilm coverage area (%) was quantified on the internal surface of maxillary dentures at baseline and after 21 days. Afterward, the differences between initial and posttreatment results were compared by means of the Kruskal-Wallis test (α= 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median values for biofilm coverage area after treatment were: (G1) 36.0%; (G2) 5.3%; and (G3) 1.4%. Differences were significant (KW = 35.25; p < 0.001), although G2 and G3 presented similar efficacy in terms of biofilm removal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both chlorhexidine-based treatments had a similar ability to remove denture biofilm. Immersion in 0.12% or 2.0% chlorhexidine solutions can be used as an auxiliary method for cleaning complete dentures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Ribeirão Preto Dental School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ingrid Machado
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Patricia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Cláudia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Silva-Lovato
authors.forename: Raphael F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Monteiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Souza-Gugelmin
authors.forename: Helena de Freitas Oliveira
authors.initials: Hde F
authors.lastname: Paranhos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003820:Denture Cleansers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003824:Denture, Complete; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003820:Denture Cleansers; D002710:Chlorhexidine