Quantitative transmission electron microscopic study of dental plaque--an in vivo study with different mouthrinses

Only a few studies of dental plaque in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been performed. The authors have applied TEM for morphometric analysis of dental plaque. Wearing acrylic splints with bovine enamel pieces on the buccal surface of teeth 36 and 46, 21 volunteers rinsed twice a day with a solution of chlorhexidine digluconate, amine/stannous fluoride, or sodium chloride. After 24, 48, and 72 h each a piece of enamel was taken and quantitatively analyzed by TEM for plaque thickness and composition. Similar results were obtained for plaque thickness after rinsing with chlorhexidine digluconate or amine/stannous fluoride. Numerical differences at the counts of cocci or bacilli after rinsing with chlorhexidine digluconate or amine/stannous fluoride did not always have statistical significance.