The effect of chlorhexidine gluconate chips on clinical status of peri-implant mucosa and plaque formation on healing abutments following single-stage implant surgeries

Background: An experimental study was designed to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine gluconate chips on clinical status of peri-implant mucosa and plaque formation on healing abutments following single-stage implant surgeries. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight single-stage implant sites were grouped into 14 test and control sites. The study commences from the time of suture removal following surgery, designated as day 0. Chlorhexidine chip insertion into peri-implant sulcus in test sites was done on day 0, 10, and 20. Peri-implant crevicular fluid was collected on day 0, 10, 20, and 30 for biochemical estimation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The modified sulcus bleeding index (mBI) score was obtained in both test and control sites on day 10, 20, and 30. On day 30, all the healing abutments were unscrewed and sent for stereomicroscopic analysis to assess the plaque formation on its surface. Results: Statistically significant difference was not observed in AST levels and mBI in both test and control groups in various time intervals. In the stereomicroscopic assessment of healing abutment, mild grade of plaque accumulation was seen in three samples in test group, one sample in control group, and severe grade was seen in six samples in test group and nine samples in the control group. Conclusion: Inflammatory condition of peri-implant mucosa and plaque retentive properties on healing abutment surface were found to have reduced with the usage of chlorhexidine gluconate chips. However, the study failed to establish a statistically significant correlation of these observations.