Australasian Dentist Issue 93

114 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST COMPANY PROFILES Q Part of your research involves debunking myths surrounding the use of chemical plaque control in dental clinical practice. Why do you think these misconceptions exist in the first place and how do you go about unravelling them? There are many myths related to chemical plaque control, as its use extends to ancient civilisations that used various substances as “mouth washes” in the prevention and therapy of numerous oral diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis. The global market is loaded with new products. Under pressure to sell, manufacturers are sometimes presenting their products in the best light creating misconceptions that the product may be more effective than it really is, neglecting potential adverse effects. However, from the aspect of prevention, it is important to emphasise that chemical plaque control should not be used routinely and that oral antiseptics should be used as adjunct to mechanical plaque control. Plaque control with a toothbrush and an interdental brush/floss is of paramount importance and first choice in regular hygiene maintenance. Adjunctive use of oral antiseptics may further reduce colonisation of bacteria and alleviate gingival inflammation. As dental professionals, we should be up to date with most recent evidence and choose products that are tested and proved to be effective and safe for our patients. Rinse of the future Can a natural antibacterial agent extracted from bitter oranges be the modern equivalent of Chlorhexidine for oral rinses? Danny Chan gets the details from chemical plaque control expert, Dr Tihana Divnic-Resnik. Q Chlorhexidine is one of the most widely used antiseptics for plaque control, but you also highlight its negative side effect of discolouration. Should dentists continue to recommend rinses containing chlorhexidine? Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a well-documented and effective antiseptic used for primary and secondary prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control. Commonly, it is used as antibacterial mouth rinse at various concentrations twice a day for up to four weeks. Although CHX exhibits broad anti­ microbial spectrum and has outstanding substantivity, its major drawback is its ability to stain teeth and aesthetic restorative materials. In the recent few years, due to widespread use of CHX not only in dentistry but also in medicine, concern has been raised in relation to increased number of cases of allergy to CHX as well as enhanced microbial tolerance. Such undesirable reactions have resulted in calls for modified clinical practice and exploration of alternative substances for oral care. Until new approaches have been developed, CHX remains a viable choice in practice – provided that dentists and patients are aware of its potential adverse effects. Citrox® is an exciting organic antibacterial agent that could be used in a whole new generation of mouthwashes. While its strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties have been likened to those of Chlorhexidine (CHX) – currently one of the most widely used antiseptics for plaque control – Citrox® has demonstrated some benefits that could make it a formidable weapon in the battle against oral plaque. Although yet early days, initial test results have so far been positive. “We believe that Citrox® is proving itself as an important ingredient in efficient mouth wash solutions and together with cyclodextrins, will play a crucial role in the future of oral healthcare,” attests Dr Tihana Divnic-Resnik. Dr Divnic-Resnik is a university-based researcher studying the potential uses of Citrox® as part of a broad exploration into different avenues of chemical plaque control. She is also involved in the research of Curaden’s CURAPROX Perio Plus+, an oral antiseptic range that combines Chlorhexidine with Citrox®.