Various applications of chlorhexidine as an antimicrobial agent in dentistry: A review

Abstract

Chlorhexidine is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent, which has been into used in the dental practice as a major anti plaque agent. Chlorhexidine not only shows the property of substantivity, but due to its broad spectrum of antimicrobial property, it is used in various oral diseases. Different uses of chlorhexidine are, prime most is as a major antiplaque agent, it can be used as a root canal irrigant during the process of root canal treatment, it can be used in the prevention of the dental caries as it results in the suppression of the streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity. It helps in the prevention of the secondary infection from the apthous ulcers as well as from the alveolar osteitis, it can also be prescribed to the patient suffering from denture stomatitis, show promising results also as an anti fungal agent. The use of chlorhexidine mouth wash is not recommended for long term use, as it results in discoloration, so to over come this disadvantage of the chlorhexidine a new formulation with properties of anti discoloration is preferred in case for long term use of the chlorhexidine, and this new system with property of anti discoloration shows promising results in every manner.