[The effectiveness of a chlorhexidine (Plak-out) gel and solution: clinical study]

A gel containing 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate has been utilized during 6 weeks as a toothpast 3 times a day by a group of 8 students, while 8 other volonteers have brushed their teeth with a gel placebo. The gingival and plaque indices, as well as the amount of gingival fluid have been measured at the beginning and at the end of the experimental time. Colour photographs were also taken. The study, performed in double blind, did not show any significant change in the gingival conditions of the 16 students. In a second trial, the antiplaque properties of a chlorhexidine containing solution (Plak-out liquid) were tested. After thorough prophylaxis, 13 students in an experimental group and 8 students in a placebo group were asked to stop their oral hygiene procedures during 7 days and to rinse their mouth 2 times a day during 1 minute with the chlorhexidine solution or with the placebo. In each of the 2 groups, 4 subgroups were formed, each rinsing the mouth with a chlorhexidine or a placebo concentration of 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 per cent. In the experimental group the results show a practically complete inhibition of plaque deposits. The average plaque index, which amounted to 0.3 at the beginning of the experiment in the 2 groups, showed an increase to 1.2 in the placebo group and dropped to 0.2 in the chlorhexidine group. The plaque inhibition seems to take place as a function of the chlorhexidine concentration. The gingival index of inflammation and the amount of gingival fluid showed an increase in the placebo group but did not change in the volonteers using the active compound.