of Pharmaceutical , Biological and Chemical Sciences Chlorhexidine : First To Be Known , Still A Gold Standard Anti - Plaque Agent .

Chlorhexidine is one chemical plaque control agent which has various clinical applications in dentistry especially in periodontics that have come to stay that it is not inappropriate to call it the gold standard chemical plaque control agent discovered till date. After years of use by the dental profession, chlorhexidine is still considered as the gold standard against which the efficacy of other antiplaque agents is measured. Chlorhexidine’s antiplaque effect is a result of the dicationic nature of the chlorhexidine molecule, which affords the agent the property of persistence of antimicrobial effect at the tooth surface, through both bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects. Although other antiplaque agents may show either purely immediate effect, or limited persistence, the degree of chlorhexidine’s persistence of effect at the tooth surface is the basis of its clinical efficacy (substantivity). By understanding how the chemical properties of the chlorhexidine molecule can explain the plethora of clinical efficacy and safety data, the use of chlorhexidine can be optimally aimed towards the patient groups who would most benefit from the superior therapeutic effect of the agent. Thus, by understanding the properties and limitations of the chlorhexidine molecule, the dental profession can ensure that the efficacy of the agent is maximized, and the side effects associated with the agent are minimized, allowing chlorhexidine to be the most efficient and the gold standard against which the efficacy of other antiplaque agents will continue to be measured.