ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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Title Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Varnish In Treating Root caries of Geriatric Patients
Clinical Question Will the application of a chlorhexidine varnish prevent or reduce the progression of root caries in a geriatric population versus a placebo group?
Clinical Bottom Line Chlorhexidine varnish can aid in the reduction of the occurrence and progression of root caries in geriatric patients.
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 11808057Banting/2000236 SubjectsRandomized control Trial
Key resultsTreatment with 10% chlohexidine varnish demonstrated a significant reduction in root caries (p=0.02) and total caries (p=0.03) versus the placebo groups. The chlorhexidine varnish treatment group had a root caries reduction of 41 percent and a total caries reduction of 25 percent.
#2) 19497653Baca/200968 subjectsRandomized control trial
Key resultsIn the group that received chlorhexidine varnish, the increase in root caries during the study was significantly lower (p=.039). The progression of existing root caries also was lower in terms of size, color, and texture.
Evidence Search ("aged"[MeSH Terms] OR "aged"[All Fields]) AND ("chlorhexidine"[MeSH Terms] OR "chlorhexidine"[All Fields]) AND ("root caries"[MeSH Terms] OR ("root"[All Fields] AND "caries"[All Fields]) OR "root caries"[All Fields])
Comments on
The Evidence
The studies presented were double blind, randomized control trials, and adequate follow up was observed in both studies. However, to make the groups in the study similar, clarification of the type of oral hygiene used along with the chlorhexidine treatment needs to be confirmed. Even though oral hygiene is not part of the clinical question, it can influence the results of the studies.
Applicability These studies show that if a patient is at risk for root caries, chlorhexidine varnish treatment can reduce or cease the progression of root caries. These studies may apply to those patients that are limited in dexterity to mechanically maintain oral hygiene and may need a more chemical assistance for plaque removal in maintaining their oral hygiene.
Specialty/Discipline (Public Health) (General Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene)
Keywords Geriatric, dentistry, chlorhexidine, aged, elderly, root caries
ID# 2411
Date of submission: 02/28/2013spacer
E-mail Vuongb@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Benjamin Vuong
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor/Co-author Tam T. Van, DDS
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail van@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
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None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
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