Effects of chlorhexidine gel on periodontal health of abutment teeth in patients with overdentures

The aim of this study was to test the effect of chlorhexidine gel application on periodontal health of abutment teeth in patients with overdentures. 19 patients with immediate overdentures were distributed at random among 2 experimental groups. In these groups, a placebo and chlohexidine gel were daily applied. Patients were recalled at 6-month intervals over a period of 2 years. In both groups, pocket depth, tooth mobility and bleeding index were initially found to decrease after insertion of the overdenture. In the chlorhexidine group, the bleeding index remained very low over the 2-year period, whereas in the placebo group. the bleeding index gradually returned to the baseline values. The pocket depth in the chlorhexidine group remained below the baseline value, in contrast to values in the control group. The width of the attached gingiva decreased in both the groups, but less in the chlorhexidine group.