Chlorhexidine rinsing in physically handicapped pupils in Katlehong

Poor oral hygiene and a high prevalence of marginal gingivitis are characteristic findings in handicapped persons. The present double-blind, cross-over study was to evaluate a twice daily mouth rinse of 10ml 0.2 per cent chlorhexidine on plaque and gingivitis in physically handicapped pupils aged 6 to 21 years. The plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) at baselines were relatively lower than in other published studies. For PI the mean score did not exceed 1.0 at any time; for GI the same was true except for tooth 16 which was 1.1. Only mild gingival inflammation was present. The chlorhexidine rinse produced 34 per cent to 54 per cent improvement in PI values and 48 per cent to 52 per cent improvement in GI values. Highly statistically significant effects were seen for treatment and time but there was no significant learning effect. Whether the children lived at home or at the study school had no significant effect. The chlorhexidine rinse may be successfully used in physically handicapped children but the low gingival inflammation in the group suggests that simple oral hygiene improvement might produce the same effect.