10% chlorhexidine varnish did not reduce caries in an adult population

A multi-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised clinical trial involving 983 adults (aged 18-80 years old).

The test group received chlorhexidine diacetate 10% weight per volume (w/v) dental coating and the control group received a placebo coating. Coatings were applied weekly for four weeks and a fifth time six months later.

The Pitts and Fyffe taxonomy was used to measure caries progression or reversal, which identifies three stages of lesion on coronal surfaces. The primary outcome was the total net increment in D(1-2)FS; secondary outcomes included the cumulative net D(1-2)FS increment and the total crude D(1-2)FS increment and the cumulative crude D(1-2)FS increment.

No significant difference was seen between the treatment and placebo groups over a 13 month study period.

Ten percent chlorhexidine diacetate coating did not show a reduction in caries in an adult population.