[Prevention of dental caries with chlorhexidine]

The presence of > or = 10(6) mutans streptococci per ml saliva may indicate a high caries risk or activity. Individuals exhibiting these high levels of mutans streptococci are ironically called 'millionaires'. It has been demonstrated that the reduction of the mutans streptococci with a series of chlorhexidine gel treatments, reduces the caries incidence in millionaire children. Recently, two chlorhexidine varnishes have been shown to reduce the mutans streptococci in plaque and saliva significantly. It may be expected that the application of these chlorhexidine varnishes may reduce caries incidence in 'millionaires'. It may also be possible to treat individual sites of the teeth that are at risk.