Caries control in the albino rat with chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibitane)

Varying concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibitane) were added to the drinking water of albino rats maintained on caries promoting diet MIT No. 200. Animals receiving chlorhexidine showed reductions in buccal caries scores ranging from 31 to 75 per cent. Animals receiving 0.2 per cent chlorhexidine were found to consume less liquid and exhibited an impaired ability to gain weight. Although sulcal caries scores in animals receiving chlorhexidine were lower than scores of controls, the effectiveness of chlorhexidine on sulcal caries did not seem as great as on buccal surface caries.An attempt to increase the animals' acceptance of chlorhexidine by adding sucrose to the liquid produced apparent changes in liquid intake, which could not be replicated, however. By the termination of the experiment, the animals consuming chlorhexidine displayed varying degrees of hair loss. In microscopic studies, some animals exhibited an enhanced translucency of the enamel. It is concluded that chlorhexidine gluconate effectively reduces the incidence of caries in the albino rat, but body weight and tissue changes suggest the need for additional toxicity studies.