A META ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL-STUDIES ON THE CARIES INHIBITING EFFECT OF CHLORHEXIDINE TREATMENT

A meta-analysis was performed on published data on the caries-inhibiti ng effect of chlorhexidine treatment. The results of the various studi es are difficult to evaluate because of various treatment procedures, dissimilar features of participants, and different presentations of st udy results. A meta-analysis provides a more structured approach than the traditional review, due to systematic analysis and numerical proce ssing of the available information. The objectives of this meta-analys is were: (1) to assess a more accurate estimate of the caries-inhibiti ng effect of chlorhexidine treatment than provided by individual studi es, and (2) to explore factors potentially modifying the effect of chl orhexidine treatment in caries prevention, i.e., the application metho d, application frequency, target population, the fluoride regime, and caries criteria. Caries reduction was expressed by the prevented fract ion, indicating the percentage reduction of caries incidence in the ch lorhexidine group. For all prevented fractions, 95% confidence interva ls were calculated. The overall caries-inhibiting effect of the chlorh exidine treatment studies was 46% (95% CI = 35% - 57%). Multiple-regre ssion analysis showed no significant influence on the prevented fracti ons for the variables ''application method'', ''application frequency' ', ''caries risk'', ''fluoride regime'', ''caries diagnosis'', and ''t ooth surface''.