title: Effects of two different post-surgical protocols including either 0.05 % chlorhexidine herbal extract or 0.1 % chlorhexidine on post-surgical plaque control, early wound healing and patient acceptance following standard periodontal surgery and implant placement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare early wound healing, tooth staining and patient acceptance with two different post-surgical maintenance protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients scheduled for flap surgery to treat periodontal pockets or accommodate dental implants were randomly assigned to receive the following two different post-surgical maintenance protocols: (a) 2 weeks rinsing with a 0.05 % chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX)/herbal extract combination (test) or (b) a 0.1 % CHX solution (control). Early wound healing was evaluated clinically and immunologically. Tooth staining and patient acceptance were assessed by means of visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups presented with comparable wound healing profiles. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two protocols regarding early wound healing and plaque index (p > 0.05). However, in the control group, statistically significantly more patients felt discomfort due to tooth staining (p = 0.0467). Compared with patients from the test group, patients in the control group reported statistically significant more irritation of taste at week 1 (p = 0.0359) and at week 2 (p = 0.0042).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings indicate that the two CHX protocols resulted in comparable healing and inhibition of plaque formation. Tooth staining and subjective discomfort related to irritation of taste were more frequent in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A post-operative protocol including 0.05 % CHX/herbal extract may have the potential to improve patient compliance during post-operative maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laugisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ramseier
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giovanni E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Hägi
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bürgin
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sigrun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eick
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. anton.sculean@zmk.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sculean
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000601:surgery*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000139:chemically induced; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D010936:Plant Extracts; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: Chlorhexidine digluconate; Herbal extract; Patient compliance; Periodontal wound healing; Taste irritation; Tooth staining