Clinical effect of subgingival chlorhexidine irrigation on gingivitis in adolescent orthodontic patients

Twenty-three adolescent orthodontic patients with gingivitis affecting all banded first molars volunteered for the study. Three measures associated with gingivitis (papilla bleeding index, plaque index, and probing depth) were recorded at four sites for all four molars. A single application of subgingival irrigation with 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate or isotonic saline was performed for 5 seconds at each site. As determined by coin toss, the first molars on the right or left side of the mouth received either chlorhexidine or saline irrigation. The papilla bleeding index, plaque index, and probing depth were recorded before the treatment and subsequently at 2 weeks and then 4 weeks. The gingival bleeding as determined by papilla bleeding index, was virtually eliminated in 4 weeks by a single application of subgingival irrigation with either chlorhexidine or saline. However, there was no significant reduction in pocket depth or plaque index. In addition, no significant difference between the effect of chlorhexidine or saline was found for any of the outcome measures.