ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of manual brushing plus water flosser (WP 100) to manual brushing alone on improving the oral health parameters of plaque, bleeding, and gingivitis. The materials and methods used were 100 subjects between 18 to 30 years of age with mild-to-moderate gingivitis and they were included in this 4-week study. Subjects in the test group were assigned to use water flosser and manual brushing whereas control group subjects carried out manual brushing alone. Both groups were advised to brush twice daily using the modified bass technique. Subjects were scored at 0 day, 14th day and 28th day for gingival inflammation (gingival index), gingival bleeding (bleeding index) and plaque (modified plaque index). Both groups showed statistically significant plaque, gingivitis, bleeding reduction at 4 weeks, respectively but the test group was significantly better than control group at 2 and 4 weeks. In a nutshell, this clinical study demonstrated that water flosser as an adjunct to brushing is an effective oral hygiene regimen.
ABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da higiene bucal com clorexidina 2% e escovação mecânica sobre a taxa de pneumonia associada a ventilador em uma população mista de pacientes sob ventilação mecânica prolongada. MÉTODOS: Estudo piloto prospectivo, aleatório e placebo-controlado. Foram incluídos pacientes sob ventilação mecânica, com menos de 24 horas de internação e cuja perspectiva de duração da ventilação mecânica era a de um período >72 horas. Os pacientes foram randomizados para o grupo clorexidina (gel com clorexidina a 2%) e escovação mecânica ou grupo placebo (gel da mesma coloração e consistência e escovação mecânica) na higiene bucal. RESULTADOS: A análise interina planejada foi realizada quando 52 pacientes foram incluídos, e o estudo foi interrompido precocemente. Um total de 28 pacientes foi incluído no grupo clorexidina/escovação mecânica e 24 no grupo placebo. As taxas de pneumonia associada a ventilador foram de 45,8% no grupo placebo e de 64,3% no grupo clorexidine/escovação mecânica (RR=1,4; IC95%=0,83-2,34;p=0,29). CONCLUSÃO: Devido a interrupção precoce por futilidade, não foi possível avaliar o impacto do uso de clorexidina a 2% e escovação mecânica na higiene bucal na incidência de pneumonia associada a ventilador nessa população heterogênea de pacientes críticos sob ventilação mecânica prolongada, não tendo sido evidenciado nenhum efeito benéfico dessa intervenção.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of oral chlorhexidine hygiene with toothbrushing on the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia in a mixed population of critically ill patients under prolonged mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, and placebo-controlled pilot study. Patients who were receiving mechanical ventilation, had been admitted less than 24 hours prior, and were anticipated to require mechanical ventilation for more than 72 hours were included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into one of the following groups: chlorhexidine hygiene with toothbrushing or a placebo group (gel with the same color and consistency and toothbrushing). RESULTS: The planned interim analysis was conducted using 52 patients, and the study was terminated prematurely. In total, 28 patients were included in the chlorhexidine / toothbrushing group, and 24 patients were included in the placebo group. Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in 45.8% of the placebo group and in 64.3% of the chlorhexidine hygiene with toothbrushing group (RR=1.4; 95% CI=0.83-2.34; p=0.29). CONCLUSION: Because the study was terminated due to futility, it was not possible to evaluate the impact of oral hygiene using 2% chlorhexidine and toothbrushing on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in this heterogeneous population of critical patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation, and no beneficial effect was observed for this intervention.