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Objective: To evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine-thymol varnish alone, its combination with chlorhexidine-fluo
-
ride containing dentifrice and fluoride varnish on oral hygiene and caries prevention in orthodontic patients.
Study design: Sixty patients, aged 12-18, with orthodontic fixed appliances were randomly assigned into three
groups as follows: Group 1 (n=20): 1% chlorhexidine and 1% thymol varnish (Cervitec
®
Plus); Group 2 (n=20):
Cervitec
®
Plus+ 0.2% chlorhexidine and 0.2% sodium fluoride (900 ppm fluoride) (Cervitec
®
Gel)); and Group 3
(n=20): 0.1% fluoride varnish (Fluor Protector
®
).
Mutans streptococci
(MS),
lactobacilli
(LB) levels, buffering
capacity (BC), visible plaque index (VPI), and gingival bleeding index (GBI) scores were evaluated at four stages:
T
0
, before orthodontic bonding; T
1
, one week after orthodontic bonding; T
2
, one week; and T
3
, four weeks after
the first application, respectively. Inter and intra group comparisons were made by the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-
Whitney U, Friedman and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests with Bonferroni step-down correction (
P<
0.017).
Results: Significantly lower MS and LB levels were found in Group 2 than Group 1 (T
2
) and 3 (T
2
, T
3
) (
P<
0.017).
Groups 1-2 (T
2
) showed significantly higher BC (
P<
0.017) and lower VPI and GBI (
P<
0.017) scores compared
with Group 3. Decreased MS levels at T
2
(
P<
0.017) and T
3
(
P>
0.017) were found in Group1-2 compared with T
0
.
Significantly lower LB levels were recorded in Group 2 at T
2
compared with T0 (
P<
0.017) while no significant
differences were seen in Group 1 and 3 (
P>
0.017).
Conclusions: Addition of Cervitec
®
Plus+Cervitec
®
Gel combination to the standard oral hygiene regimen may be
beneficial for orthodontic patients for maintaining oral health by reducing bacterial colonisation and gingivitis.
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