CHLORHEXIDINE USE AFTER 2 DECADES OF OVER-THE-COUNTER AVAILABILITY

CHLORHEXIDINE (CHX) IS A COMPOUND WITH PLAQUE-INHIBITING EFFECTS and a vailable only by prescription in the United States. In Norway, however , CHX has been dispensed over-the-counter for over 20 years, and this study was undertaken to evaluate dentists' perceptions regarding its i ndications, usefulness, and side effects. A written questionnaire was sent to a sample of 10% of dentists registered in Norway, 78% of whom (354) responded. Additionally, representatives from 2% of all dental p ractices in Norway were contacted by telephone. Fourteen percent (14%) of the respondents reported that they never recommended CHX to their patients. Among those recommending the compound, 85% used it frequentl y after surgical periodontal procedures; 74% when treating acute gingi vitis; 57% following oral surgery in general; and 35% during non-surgi cal periodontal therapy. It was used also as an adjunct to other treat ment routines. Seventy-three percent (73%) reported frequent use of CH X when treating stomatitis and 54% in herpes simplex infections. As to side effects, 77% of the dentists indicated that staining of teeth, r estorations, and the tongue was a major concern to patients; 12% repor ted inconveniences due to the bitter taste; and 6% reported other dist urbances such as dryness of the mouth and development of oral ulcerati ons. The majority (94%) of the dentists recommended mouth rinsing, whe reas 6% recommended a gel form. Only 4% of the dentists recommended ri nsing with a patient-diluted 0.1% concentration, whereas 96% recommend ed the standard 0.2% formulation; 88% recommended using CHX mouthwash twice a day or more often. II is concluded that CHX is used frequently in Norwegian dental practices and that its use profile is diverse, th ough mainly as an anti-plaque compound over a limited period of time w hen the use of other mechanical measures is not feasible or sufficient .