Reducing Microbial Levels in High Caries Risk Adults – Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is an infectious transmissible chronic disease. Unless the
microorganisms initiating decalcification of the enamel are dealt with initially, the
restorative management of dental caries is doomed to failure.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if a NaOCl-povidone-I2 rinse
was more effective than a povidone-I2 rinse alone in decreasing microbial levels in
high caries risk adults.

Methods: Forty-eight participants were examined to determine their caries
experience and randomized into treatment (TX) and control (CT) groups. At baseline,
each participant gave a saliva sample for the CRT® test and a plaque sample for the
CariScreen® test.. The TX group rinsed with 15 ml of 1.6% NaOCl (The Clorox
Company, Oakland, CA, USA) for one minute followed by rinsing with 15 ml of 10%
povidone-I2 (Betadine®. Aviro HealthLP, Stamford, CT. USA) for one minute. The
CT group rinsed with 15 ml of povidone-I2 for one minute. The CRT® and
CariScreen® tests were repeated at one, four, eight and twelve weeks.

Results: The CRT® test showed that the TX group kept the level of Streptococcus
mutans lower than the CT group at four weeks and through the remainder of the study.
The CRT® test showed the TX group kept the level of Streptococcus mutans lower
than the CT group at four weeks and for the remainder of the study. The CariScreen®
test showed that both groups kept organisms low for only one week.

Conclusion: The use of NaOCl before povidone-I2 (TX) did enhance the effect of the
povidone-I2 . The CariScreen® readings were low at week one, but increased rapidly
hereafter suggesting inaccurate readings.