Effect of different concentrations of commercially available mouthwashes on wound healing following periodontal surgery: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Theodoros Katsaros 1, Elizabeth Mayer 2, Archontia Palaiologou 3, Miguel Romero-Bustillos 4, Gerald H Evans 2, Thomas E Lallier 5, Pooja Maney

Main idea: Full strength concentrations of chlorhexidine and essential oils did not show any detrimental effects on healing after traditional periodontal surgery at the end of the observation period.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine and essential oils containing mouth rinses on oral wound healing after periodontal flap surgery.

Materials and methods: Eighty subjects participated in the study and were randomly assigned to use water, 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX), essential oils (EO), 5% CHX, and 10% EO. Plaque index and modified gingival index (GI) were recorded, while wound epithelialization was measured. Numerical data were analyzed with parametric test for multiple comparisons (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction. Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square test/fisher exact test.

Results: All groups demonstrated a gradual gingival index reduction from first to third visit. Patients in the chlorhexidine group presented statistically significant lower PI scores than patients in the water group at the all-time points of the study. Wound epithelialization analysis demonstrated that 100% of the sites in the chlorhexidine group were healing by secondary intention at visit 1. This finding was statistically significant.

Source NIH