REDUCTIONS IN CLINICAL GINGIVITIS, DENTAL PLAQUE BACTERIA AND MICROBIOME ANALYSIS AFTER USE OF A CHX MOUTH RINSE IN COMPARISON TO A CONTROL TREATMENT.

K. V. V. Prasad*, Prem K. Sreenivasan, Yogitha Pothamsetty and Vattikonda Hari Devaraya Chowdary

ABSTRACT

Background: A recognition of microbial influences in the initiation and progression of common oral conditions has resulted in a significant emphasis on avenues to augment oral hygiene. Aims: Analyze clinical outcomes along with evaluation of anaerobic dental plaque bacteria by microbial culture and high throughput 16S rRNA sequencing after rinsing with a 0.12% chlorhexidine or a fluoride mouthwash. Settings and Design: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital and the population were from the local area who provided voluntary written informed consent. Materials and Methods: Adults aged 20-55 years with gingival index scores of 1.0 or more underwent examinations for dental plaque and gingivitis followed by collection of dental plaque Post-treatment clinical assessments and microbial culture were conducted after one and two weeks use of treatments with microbial 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) sequencing of dental plaque. Results: Chlorhexidine group demonstrated a 66% and 76% reduction respectively for plaque bacteria evaluated by anaerobic microbial culture at the one- and two-week evaluations compared to the fluoride group. 16S rRNA analysis of dental plaque identified 290 OTU’s representing 18 phyla and 133 genera. 57.2% of these OTU’s were observed in all evaluations with principal component analyses. α-diversity (chao 1) assessments demonstrated significant reductions in microbial density after Chlorhexidine treatment. Conclusions: Significant changes in microbial genera including Veillonella, Haemophilus, Treponema and Aggregatibacter were observed after Chlorhexidine treatment. Results align with the clinical assessments for dental plaque and gingivitis.

Keywords: Chlorhexidine, Dental Plaque, Gingivitis, Polymorphonuclear leukocytes.