Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant difference exists in the efficacy of chlorhexidine-coated brush filaments as compared to uncoated filaments in reducing bacterial numbers.
Methods. The IRB-approved, 2-group, double-blind, randomized posttest-only design was conducted with 63 participating adults. After using the control or experimental brush for 30 days, the participants returned the brushes to the researchers in sealed autoclave bags. In the laboratory, microorganisms were detached from the filaments by sonification and vortexing, and then plated on selective media at various dilutions (10-1, 10-3, 10-4, and 10-5). The plates were incubated aerobically for 24 hours at 37° C. After incubation, bacterial colony forming units (CFU) were determined for each sample from 2 different media, one selective (Mitis Salivarius) and the other not (TSA Sheep Blood). Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Fifty-nine samples were returned and processed.
Results. A final sample of 59 toothbrushes were returned and processed. Data from the blood agar indicated the mean number of CFU for the control toothbrush was 3.73 x 10-5 compared to the treatment brush of 3.23 x 10-5. For the Mitis Salivarius agar, the control mean was 2.34 x 10-5 CFU as compared to the treatment mean of 3.07 x 10-5.
Conclusion. Results revealed there was no statistically significant difference in the quantity of bacteria surviving on the toothbrush filaments between the 2 groups after the 30-day trial period; however, findings only reflect the number of aerobic bacterial colony forming units on blood agar or Mitis Salivarius agar. Study results cannot be generalized to include anaerobes or other bacteria, which may react differently to the presence of the antimicrobial agents.
- Copyright © 2007 The American Dental Hygienists' Association
