To examine the antibacterial activities of a 1.23% Acidulated Phosphate Sodium Fluoride (APSF) gel and a 0.1% chlorhexicdine solution against cariogenic bacteria, the author studied 30 children (15 males and 15 females), 7-11 years old and being
treated
with removable orthdontic appliances in the Department of Pedodontics, Chonnam National University Hospital.
The subjects were divided into 1 control group and 2 experimental groups (each group had 10 children).
Group I, the control group, was treated with professional oral prophylaxis by non-fluoride pumice and rubber cup twice a week for 2 weeks, Group II with a 1.23% acidulated phosphate sodium fluoride (APSF) gel by individual tray one time for 4
minutes,
and Group III gargled with 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate gargling solution every morning and night for 2 weeks (each time 15 ml for 30 seconds).
The saliva stimulated by wax before treatment and 1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks after treatment with the 1.23% APSF gel and the 0.1% chlorhexidine solution were collected from the subjects in sterilized bottles, and then the number of Streptococcus mutans
and
lactobacillus in the saliva was monitored by using a Mitis-Salivarius-Bacitracin (MSB) agar plate and a Rogosa SL agar plate.
@ES The results were as follows:
@EN 1. The mean number of Streptococcus mutans in saliva before treatment was 11.18¡¿10E5 CFU/ml in males, 11.52¡¿10E5 CFU/ml in females, and lactobacillus was 5.92¡¿10E5 CFU/ml in males, 6.54¡¿10E5 CFU/ml in females.
2. The number of Streptococcus mutans in saliva in 1 week after treatment was reduced to 1.23¡¿10E5 CFU/ml in group III males, 1.08¡¿105 CFU/ml in group ill females, 6.17¡¿10E5 CFU/ml in group II males, 6.62¡¿10E5 CFU/.ml in group II females.
Group III
was the lowest of all groups followed by group II.
3. The recolonization of Streptococcus mutans increased gradually after treatment, and returned to the baseline at 5 weeks after treatment.
4. The number of lactobacillus in saliva was not significantly reduced in any group before and after treatment.
5. No significant difference was noted between males and females in any group.
These results suggest that continuous application of a 1.23% APSF gel or solution or gel types of chlorhexidine in proper concentration may prevent dental caries by Streptococcus mutans on orthodontic pateints wearing removable appliances who are
at
high risk of dental caries, because the shorttime use of a 1.23% APSF gel was not effective.
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