Abstract

Background:Themicrobial reservoirsofinfectious bioaerosolsincludesaliva,calculus,anddentalunitwater line.Previous studies have observed a reduction in salivary bacterial counts with the usage of chlorhexidine. In this study, calculus has additionallybeentargetedwiththeadjunctiveusageofhydrogenperoxidefollowedbychlorhexidinemouthrinse.Aimsand
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of preconditioning using 1.5% hydrogen peroxide followed by rinsing with 0.2% chlorhexidine over chlorhexidine alone, with saline as a negative control in reducing the microbial counts in the aerosol produced during ultrasonic scaling. Methods: Fifteen chronic periodontitis subjects were randomly allocated into three groups. Before scaling, groups 1 and 2 subjects were made to rinse with saline and 0.2% chlorhexidine, respectively. In group 3 patients, calculus was conditioned with a topical application of 1.5% hydrogen peroxide before chlorhexidine mouthrinse.Theaerosolproducedfromtheultrasonicunitwascollectedatthreedesignatedareasonagarplates.Theplates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h and colony-forming units (CFU) evaluated.Result: The CFUs were the lowest in group 3 at the three designated locations (p =0.007, 0.006, and 0.003, respectively). Hydrogen peroxide asan adjunct to chlorhexidine showed a statistically significant decrease in the CFUs at the patient and assistant sides, when compared with chlorhexidine alone. Conclusion: This pilot study showed that the adjunctive use of hydrogen peroxide with chlorhexidine is superior to lone usage of chlorhexidine in combating the infected dental aerosols.