J Korean Acad Periodontol.  2009 Sep;39(3):303-310. 10.5051/jkape.2009.39.3.303.

The effect of chlorhexidine on reduction of viable organisms in aerosol produced by ultrasonic scaler

• Son WK
• Shin SY
• Kye SB
• Yang SM

• KMID: 2212144
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5051/jkape.2009.39.3.303

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aerosol generated by ultrasonic scaler can contain bacteria or virus which can penetrate into body through respiratory systems of dentists, dental hygienist or patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate as preoperative mouthrinse or lavage for ultrasonic scaler on the reduction of viable organisms in aerosol produced during periodontal treatment using ultrasonic scaler.
METHODS
30 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis were included and divided into 3 groups: Control (no preoperative mouthrinse and tap water as lavage), CHG (preoperative mouthrinse with 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate and tap water as lavage), CHL (no reoperative mouthrinse and 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate as lavage). Each patient received scaling or subgingival curettage for 30 min. In CHG group, mouthrinse with chlorhexidine digluconate was performed for 1 min. before treatment. Before, during and after scaling or subgingival curettage, air sampling was performed for 7 min. each (1000 L/7 min.) with trypticase-soy agar plate. Agar plates were incubated in 37degrees C aerobically. The numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) were counted and compared.
RESULTS
The numbers of CFUs of the samples obtained during treatment were 97+/-14.0 in control, 73.1+/-14.9 in CHG group and 44.5+/-9.0 in CHL group. The difference among the 3 groups was determined to be statistically significant (one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's correction, p-value: 0.0003). In contrast, the numbers of CFU of samples obtained before and after treatment were not significantly different among the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Chlorhexidine digluconate used as preoperative mouthrinse or lavage for ultrasonic scaler can reduce the microorganisms in aerosol produced during periodontal treatment using ultrasonic scaler. Less number of microorganisms were detected when chlorhexidine was used as lavage for ultrasonic scaler.

Keyword

aerosols; bacteria; chlorhexidine; ultrasonic therapy

MeSH Terms

Aerosols
Agar
Bacteria
Chlorhexidine
Chronic Periodontitis
Dental Hygienists
Dentists
Humans
Respiratory System
Stem Cells
Subgingival Curettage
Therapeutic Irrigation
Ultrasonic Therapy
Ultrasonics
Viruses
Water
Aerosols
Agar
Chlorhexidine
Water

Figure

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  Figure 1 Air sampler (M Air T™, Millipore Corp., Massachusetts, USA) for inhaling the aerosols produced by ultrasonic scaler before, during or after the treatment. The trypticase-soy agar plate is installed at the entrance of the air sampler.

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  Figure 2 Bacterias colonizing on trypticase-soy agar plates (sampled during treatment). Less number of microorganisms were detected when chlorhexidine was used as lavage for ultrasonic scaler.

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  Figure 3 Mean (±SD) numbers of the colony-forming units (CFUs) cultured on the agar plates used during treatment. The numbers CFUs are 97±14.0 in control, 73.1±14.9 in CHG group and 44.5±9.0 in CHL group. The difference among the 3 groups was statistically significant (indicated by *, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's correction, p-value: 0.0003).

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