Biomaterial Database

Effect of a 3-year professional flossing program with chlorhexidine gel on approximal caries and cost of treatment in preschool children. 1994

H Gisselsson, and D Birkhed, and A L Björn

Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, Göteborg University, Sweden.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine gel treatment on the incidence of approximal caries in preschool children. One hundred and seventeen 4-year-olds, divided into two groups, participated: (1) chlorhexidine gel group (n = 59), and (2) placebo gel group (n = 58). Group 1 was treated 4 times a year with a 1% chlorhexdine gel and group 2 with a placebo gel. Approximately 0.7 ml of gel was applied interdentally by means of a flat dental floss. A control group (group 3), which did not receive any flossing or gel treatment, was also included in the study (n = 116). After 3 years, i.e. when the children were 7 years old, the mean incidence of caries on approximal surfaces (defs), including both enamel and dentin lesions, was 2.59 in the chlorhexidine gel, 4.53 in the placebo gel and 4.20 in the control group (group 1 vs. 2 and group 1 vs. 3: p < 0.01). Mean number of approximal fillings at the end of the study, i.e. when the children were 7 years old, was 0.33 in the chlorhexidine gel, 1.04 in the placebo gel and 0.80 in the control group (group 1 vs. 2: p < 0.01; group 1 vs. 3: p < 0.05). The progression of approximal caries lesions, diagnosed on bitewing radiographs from the age of 5 to 7, was slower in the chlorhexidine than in the placebo gel group (the control group was not evaluated in this respect). A cost analysis, based on the total treatment time in minutes, showed a small gain for the flossing program.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010919	Placebos	Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol.	Sham Treatment
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002710	Chlorhexidine	A disinfectant and topical anti-infective agent used also as mouthwash to prevent oral plaque.	Chlorhexidine Acetate,Chlorhexidine Hydrochloride,MK-412A,Novalsan,Sebidin A,Tubulicid,Acetate, Chlorhexidine,Hydrochloride, Chlorhexidine,MK 412A,MK412A
D003365	Costs and Cost Analysis	Absolute, comparative, or differential costs pertaining to services, institutions, resources, etc., or the analysis and study of these costs.	Affordability,Analysis, Cost,Cost,Cost Analysis,Cost Comparison,Cost Measures,Cost-Minimization Analysis,Costs and Cost Analyses,Costs, Cost Analysis,Pricing,Affordabilities,Analyses, Cost,Analyses, Cost-Minimization,Analysis, Cost-Minimization,Comparison, Cost,Comparisons, Cost,Cost Analyses,Cost Comparisons,Cost Measure,Cost Minimization Analysis,Cost, Cost Analysis,Cost-Minimization Analyses,Costs,Measure, Cost,Measures, Cost
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D003742	Dental Devices, Home Care	Devices used in the home by persons to maintain dental and periodontal health. The devices include toothbrushes, dental flosses, water irrigators, gingival stimulators, etc.	Dental Floss,Floss, Dental,Home Care Dental Devices
D003743	Dental Enamel	A hard thin translucent layer of calcified substance which envelops and protects the dentin of the crown of the tooth. It is the hardest substance in the body and is almost entirely composed of calcium salts. Under the microscope, it is composed of thin rods (enamel prisms) held together by cementing substance, and surrounded by an enamel sheath. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p286)	Enamel,Enamel Cuticle,Dental Enamels,Enamel, Dental,Enamels, Dental,Cuticle, Enamel,Cuticles, Enamel,Enamel Cuticles,Enamels
D003777	Dental Prophylaxis	Treatment for the prevention of periodontal diseases or other dental diseases by the cleaning of the teeth in the dental office using the procedures of DENTAL SCALING and DENTAL POLISHING. The treatment may include plaque detection, removal of supra- and subgingival plaque and calculus, application of caries-preventing agents, checking of restorations and prostheses and correcting overhanging margins and proximal contours of restorations, and checking for signs of food impaction.	Prophylaxis, Dental
D003793	Dental Restoration, Permanent	A restoration designed to remain in service for not less than 20 to 30 years, usually made of gold casting, cohesive gold, or amalgam. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)	Dental Fillings, Permanent,Dental Filling, Permanent,Dental Permanent Filling,Dental Permanent Fillings,Dental Restorations, Permanent,Filling, Dental Permanent,Filling, Permanent Dental,Fillings, Dental Permanent,Fillings, Permanent Dental,Permanent Dental Filling,Permanent Dental Fillings,Permanent Dental Restoration,Permanent Dental Restorations,Permanent Filling, Dental,Permanent Fillings, Dental,Restoration, Permanent Dental,Restorations, Permanent Dental