Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1579-1582, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Microbial aspects of preventive regimes in patients with overdentures
H. M. Keltjens, M. J. Schaeken and J. S. Van der Hoeven
The aim of this study was to test effects of preventive regimes using
fluoride and chlorhexidine to prevent caries and periodontal diseases in 34
patients with overdentures. The patients, who were treated with immediate
overdentures, were distributed at random into three experimental groups. In
these groups, different gels--a placebo, a fluoride, and a
chlorhexidine-fluoride gel--were tested by daily application. Supragingival
plaque samples from selected surfaces of two abutment teeth were taken at
one week, and at one, three, and six months after initial insertion of the
overdenture. The placebo and fluoride gel influenced neither total CFU nor
S. sanguis and A. viscosus/naeslundii counts. In the placebo group, but not
in the fluoride group, S. mutans levels increased significantly, indicating
the caries risk involved in overdentures. The use of chlorhexidine-fluoride
gel resulted in a long-term suppression of total CFU. Further, S. mutans
was found to be selectively suppressed to below detection level. A.
viscosus/naeslundii was initially strongly suppressed, but after three
months a partial return of the population was noticed. S. sanguis was
relatively insensitive to the chlorhexidine-fluoride gel. It is concluded
that a daily application of a chlorhexidine-fluoride gel is effective
against plaque formation and S. mutans on abutment teeth in overdentures.
