02-08

Gayle B. McCombs, RDH, MS
Old Dominion University

ABSTRACT

THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF 0.12% CHLORHEXIDINE AND AN HERBAL ORAL RINSE ON DENTAL PLAQUE-INDUCED GINGIVITIS

The purpose of this study is to determine if a statistically significantdifferences exists in the gingival health of individuals who rinse with a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, an herbal rinse and placebo, two times a day following toothbrushing. A three group, randomized study will be utilized for 66 adult subjects between the ages of 18 to 65. Subjects will be recruited from Old Dominion University Dental Hygiene Research Center and the Hampton Roads community. At baseline and at 30 day intervals for three-months, the gingival health status will be measured by the Gingival Index (GI) of Loe and Silness (Loe, 1967) and bleeding on probing. Plaque accumulation will be measured by the Plaque Index (PI) of Silness and Loe (Silness 1964). Data will be analyzed at the .05 level, using the parametric analysis of variance for repeated measures to detect gingival changes over a three-month period.