Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 1193-1196, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Effect of chlorhexidine-fluoride applications without and with Sr and Zn on caries, plaque, and gingiva in rats
H. Luoma, L. Seppa, M. Koskinen and S. Syrjanen
Molar teeth of four groups of Osborne-Mendel rats, kept on a cariogenic
diet, were treated once per day for 48 days with either distilled water
(solution C), a solution containing 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate and 0.04%
NaF, pH 5.8 (solution CXF), CXF plus 1000 ppm Sr (solution CXFS), or CXFS
plus 1000 ppm Zn (solution CXFSZ). Caries of the hemi-sectioned lower
molars was scored according to grades of severity, and the extent of the
buccal plaque was estimated. Inflammatory cell infiltration, vascularity,
and thickness of the oral mucosa were estimated from stained sections of
the buccal oral mucosa to detect possible adverse effects of the
treatments. Fissure caries lesions with involvement of the dentin were
reduced by 57% (p less than 0.01) with the CXF treatment and by 68% (p less
than 0.001) with the CXFS treatment. The CXFSZ treatment reduced the
fissure caries least (44%, p less than 0.05), but it appreciably reduced
the extent of plaque. The mucosal changes were greatest in the group
receiving the CXFSZ treatment, but they were generally small and at a
non-pathological level. Supplementation of the CXF solution with Sr thus
appeared beneficial for caries reduction.
