Effect of mixed chlorhexidine-fluoride gel made in Iran on the level of Mutans Streptococci around orthodontic brackets

Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances often experience an increase in the rate of dental caries. Appling chlorhexidine and fluoride is known to be an effective method to solve this problem since Mutans Streptococci is described as the most important bacteria related to the etiology of dental caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically the application of a chlorhexidine-fluoride gel made in Iran on the level of Mutans Streptococci in plaque adjacent to bonded orthodontic brackets. In this double blind clinical trial 37 patients were selected. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those treated with chlorhexidine-fluoride gel five times with one week interval (group A) and those treated with placebo gel (group B). The level of Mutans Streptococci in the plaque of canine and second premolar of Maxilla before and after treatment was evaluated and compared by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. The range of changes in group A was compared with group B by Mann-whitney test. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between baseline and final colony count results in group A (P<0.0001) but no significant difference in group B and also Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.0001). Chlorhexidine-fluoride significantly decreased the level of Mutans Streptococci in plaque around the orthodontic brackets.