title: Comparison between amine fluoride and chlorhexidine with institutionalized elders: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compare the efficacy of amine fluoride toothpaste and gel with chlorhexidine spray in an institutionalised population.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  People who live in nursing homes have poorer oral hygiene because of their dependency for the basic activities of daily living as they rely on caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six people over 65 years old who had at least four teeth and living in a nursing home. They were assigned to three groups: A: amine fluoride toothpaste and once a week amine fluoride gel (Elmex(®) ), B: 0.12% spray-chlorhexidine once a day (Perio-Aid(®) ) and C: brush teeth without toothpaste. The plaque and gingival index of Silness and Löe, General Oral Health Assessment Index, McLeran and Pfeiffer index were recorded, and the number of colonies of Streptoccocus mutans and Lactobacillus and the remineralisation of caries were evaluated using Diagnodent(®). Measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two people finished the study. No group showed a statistical difference in the plaque or gingival index, but there was a tendency to show improvement in the amine fluoride group. There was also no difference between the number of colonies of either S. mutans or lactobacillus. There was a significant difference between the plaque and gingival index and the cognitive status (p=0.0054), along with their requirement for assistance to perform good oral hygiene (p=0.0001). Both products remineralised the carious lesions in this period compared with the control group (p=0.0151).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plaque and gingival indices did not improve during the study, but both products remineralised the previous caries lesions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Gerodontology, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. asor_84@csc.uic.es
authors.forename: Rosa Moreno
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Manuel Ribera
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Uribe
authors.forename: Belisa Olmo
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Inmaculada Vela
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Casasempere
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003959:Diamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014089:Tooth Remineralization / Q000379:methods; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D003959:Diamines; D014100:Toothpastes; C495399:Olaflur; D005459:Fluorides; D002710:Chlorhexidine