Effect of post‐operative use of chlorhexidine on regeneration of bifurcation defects in dogs

The daily post‐operative use of topical chlorhexidine application has been compared to daily toothbrushing. Periodontal defects were experimentally created in the bifurcations of lower premolars in dogs. The defects were treated by surgical debridment. Chlorhexidine application and toothbrushing were performed post‐operatively for six weeks on contra‐lateral pairs of teeth. The amounts of connective tissue and bone regeneration were evaluated from microscopic sections of the bifurcation areas. No difference between chlorhexidine and toothbrushing was found for the connective tissue attachment. However, significantly more bone had regenerated in the chlorhexidine treated areas than the tooth‐brushed areas.