Effect of Chlorhexidine in Preventing Plaque Biofilm on Healing Abutment

Abstract

The study aimed at evaluating the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) in preventing plaque biofilm (PB) formation on healing abutments (HAs) in patients rehabilitated with osseointegrated implants. Fifty HAs were placed in 34 voluntary patients 1 week after implant surgery (test group). After 7 days, a new set of 50 HAs was placed in the same implant sites and removed 1 week after (control group). During the 2 testing periods, patients were instructed to apply: CHX mouth rinsing twice daily and no brushing (test); no CHX mouth rinsing and no brushing (control). Scanning electron microscopy and image analysis were blindly used to objectively quantify PB amount on removed HAs. Median values and interquartile ranges of the percent ratio of titanium surface covered from PB were 0.9 (0.1-4.1) and 1.2 (0.1-11.6) for test and control groups, respectively (P = 0.0275). CHX mouth rinsing significantly limited plaque formation on HAs, being a valid contribution to mechanical brushing in early phases of plaque control on dental implants.