Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of 0.2% aqueous chlorhexidine digluoconate mixed with alginate or used as mouth rinse before taking impression and to compare with conventional type of impression mixed with distilled water. METHODOLOGY: A total of 3 impressions of each subject were taken using alginate impression material with the interval of 24 hrs between them. First impression (IMP 1) was made by mixing alginate with distilled water which served as control. Second impression (IMP 2) was made after the subjects rinsed with 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate containing mouthwash and third impression (IMP 3) was made with alginate mixed with 0.2% aqueous chlorhexidine digluconate. Impressions were cultured immediately for 4 strains of bacteria i.e. Streptococcus Viridans, Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Streptococcus Pneumonia and Staphylococcus Aureus. Based on the number of bacterial colonies observed microscopically, all the three categories of impressions were compared statistically using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULT: Marked number of bacterial colonies were observed in control specimen while significant reduction in bacterial count was seen in other experimental groups (p