Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare bacterial load using preoperative rinsing and swabbing techniques for oral surgery with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX).
Methods: Participants were healthy volunteers undergoing a general anesthetic for the removal of teeth. Participants were randomly allocated to receive 15 mL of 0.2% CHX for 60 s as either a rinse or have their mouths swabbed. Plaque samples were aseptically collected pre- and post-rinsing from the same sites in all patients (the distal surface of all second molar teeth).
Results: Patients in the swab group had similar bacteria counts before and after the application of CHX (143.4 vs 138.5 colonies, P = 1.000). After rinsing with CHX, there was an eightfold reduction of bacterial load (71 vs 8.8 colonies, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the use of CHX as an antimicrobial agent is effective in reducing the overall number of bacterial colonies in the oral cavity. Rinsing is a more effective method of doing this.
Keywords: bacterial comparison; chlorhexidine; oral surgery; rinsing; swabbing.
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