LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF CHLORHEXIDINE AT SPECIFIC SITES INTHE SALIVA FILM AFTER APPLICATION OF A TOOTH-BONDED DELIVERY SYSTEM

This paper describes the use of an HPLC assay to investigate whether a chlorhexidine-containing tooth-bonded delivery system produces antiba cterial concentrations in the surrounding saliva film. Saliva (<1.5 mu l) was collected from ten sites in the mouth at eight times over a pe riod of four days following application of tooth-bonded delivery syste ms in two dentally healthy subjects. Analysis of chlorhexidine concent rations in these samples showed a non-uniform distribution of chlorhex idine in the saliva film. Antibacterial concentrations were produced i n the area immediately surrounding the delivery system (20 +/- 4 and 2 8 +/- 12 mu g/ml for Subjects One and Two respectively) whereas concen trations at more distant sites remained low.