Efficacy of chlorhexidine varnish applications in the prevention of early childhood caries

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

A prospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate the influence of 3-monthly applications of the chlorhexidine-
containing varnish Cervitec on the colonisation of a child's oral cavity by mutans streptococci (MS) and on caries prevalence.

Methods

200 children aged 11.7 0.7 months were examined. Children's caries risk was assessed on the basis of their MS
scores in saliva. Out of the 48 children in whom a high caries risk (105 CFU/ml) was expected, 23 were treated with Cervitec
at 3-month intervals (CHX group). The remaining 25 children of the high-risk group received no treatment and served as controls (group
C). All parents received detailed information on the prevention of early childhood caries. 172 children had completed the study after one
year.

Results

During the course of the study the percentage of children with visible plaque on their maxillary incisors increased from
17.8 to 40.1 and the percentage of children given sweetened drinks in nursing bottles for the night rose from
16.3 to 18.0. At the closure of the study 26.2 of the two-year-olds had salivary scores of MS 105 CFU/ml
of saliva. The mean d1-4mft value increased from 0.05 0.4 to 0.8 2.9 and the mean d1-4mfs value rose from 0.08
0.8 to 1.8 5.9. No significant differences were demonstrable between the two-year-olds in groups CHX and C for
colonisation of the oral cavity by MS or for d1-4mft values. In contrast the d1-4mfs values were significant lower in the CHX group as in
the group C.

Conclusion

Poor feeding habits and deficits in oral hygiene cannot be compensated by the application of
Cervitec.

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