evaluation of chlorhexidine (%0.2) mouthwash effect on salivary superoxide dismutase (sod) level in periodontitis patients from ahvaz dental school

background superoxide dismutase is an important mammalian antioxidant that is found in all tissues and its role in periodontal disease is emphasized. chronic periodontitis is the most common form of periodontal disease that causes destruction of connective tissue and bone around the teeth. one way to help the treatment of periodontal disease is use of oral supplements such as chlorhexidine, which has an inhibitory effect on free radical products. this study aimed to evaluate effect of chlorhexidine (0.2%) mouthwash on salivary superoxide dismutase activity of referred patients with generalized moderate chronic periodontitis from ahvaz dental school. material and methods a total of 30 cases were included in this study; 15 patients with and 15 people with no any symptoms of periodontitis equally. control and case groups were allocated and two samples of saliva were collected before and after apply of chlorhexidine mouthwash .sod levels were determined by elisa method. using t-test methods, the collected data were analyzed. results the findings showed that the superoxide dismutase activity in the control group before use mouthwash was more than the case group and there was statistically a significant difference between two groups (p= 0.044). after eliminating chlorhexidine mouthwash, superoxide dismutase activity in either groups has increased but difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).