Effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine in reducing microorganisms found in aerosol used for dental prophylaxis of patients submitted to fixed orthodontic treatment

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed at assessing, in vivo, whether the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash would decrease air contamination caused by aerosolized sodium bicarbonate during dental prophylaxis. The study was conducted with 23 patients aged between 10 and 40 years old who were randomly selected and undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.MethodsThe study was divided into two phases (T1 and T2) with a 30-day interval in between. In both phases, dental prophylaxis was performed with aerosolized sodium bicarbonate jetted to the upper and lower arches for 4 minutes. In T1, 10 minutes before the prophylaxis procedure, the participants used distilled water as mouthwash for one minute; whereas in T2, mouthwash was performed with 0.12% chlorhexidine. Microbial samples were collected in BHI agar plates for microbiological analysis. Two dishes were positioned on the clinician (10 cm from the mouth) and a third one at 15 cm from the patient's mouth. The samples were incubated for 48 hours at 37°C. Results were expressed in colony-forming units (CFU).ResultsStatistical analysis carried out by means of Student's t test, as well as Wilconxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed that the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash significantly reduced CFU in the three positions studied (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as mouthwash significantly reduced contamination caused by aerosolized sodium bicarbonate during dental prophylaxis in the orthodontic clinic.

Dental periodontal procedures: a systematic review of contamination (splatter, droplets and aerosol) in relation to COVID-19

“…Of these, one found greater contamination on the patient 51 and one found greater contamination on the operator. 68 Operator and assistant face contamination were included as part of the paper that assessed hand scaling however this review did not report on the data findings for this. 73 ii.…”

Implementation of Recent Infection Prevention Procedures Published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Difficulties and Problems in Orthodontic Offices

“…Acutely ill patients and relatives do not usually visit dental offices but, regardless of their current health status, they should be informed and taught about respiratory and hand hygiene and cough etiquette before entering an operating room in order to minimise environmental contamination. Two studies have reported variable effects of the prior use of 0.12% chlorhexidine as a mouthwash to decrease air contamination during dental prophylaxis or the removal of fixed appliances, but the importance of the time interval between mouth washing and prophylactic procedures needs further investigation (21,22).…”

“…Mean aerosol contamination is about 6 fold higher after the removal of fixed appliances than in control group (21). Dos Santos has more recently reported a mean of 9.05 × 10 2 CFUs during prophylaxis after the use of water as a mouthwash and under different experimental conditions (22). Many objects (gypsum casts; elastomeric chains; wires; multi use vials containing bonds, cements, pastes; composite syringes; tips; light curing units, etc.)…”

“…In OF, splashand airborne particles (with a diameter of < 2.5 µm) are produced by the removal of fixed appliances, and the air contains silica particles from adhesive resin fillers, various by-products of bur material, biological fluids, and potentially infectious agents (3,5,6,21,22). The danger of these or even smaller particles that can reach the alveoli of the lungs is largely unknown and underestimated.…”

Eficácia de enxaguatórios bucais pré-procedimento na redução de microrganismos no aerossol: uma revisão sistemática

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