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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 5 ( September-October, 2012 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Efficacy of Microwaves and Chlorhexidine for Disinfection of Pacifiers and Toothbrushes: An in vitro Study

Chetan Bhat, Jay Chamele, Tanvi Saraf, Abhijeet Jadhav, Aumir Beg, Ritu Ubeja, Padmeshwari Patil

Citation Information : Bhat C, Chamele J, Saraf T, Jadhav A, Beg A, Ubeja R, Patil P. Efficacy of Microwaves and Chlorhexidine for Disinfection of Pacifiers and Toothbrushes: An in vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2012; 13 (5):690-694.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1210

Published Online: 01-02-2013

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2012; The Author(s).


Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the contamination of toothbrushes and pacifiers by Streptococcus mutans, and the efficacy of microwave and chlorhexidine for their disinfection.

Materials and methods

Sixty pacifiers and 60 toothbrushes were contaminated with S. mutans and then divided into groups according to the disinfection protocol: Group 1—chlorhexidine solution; group 2—microwave sterilization; and group 3—sterile tap water. The devices were evaluated microbiologically after disinfection for the survival of S. mutans colonies and were examined. The results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Turkey test.

Results

The results of both types of evaluation showed a large number of S. mutans colonies after spraying with sterile tap water, and chlorhexidine spraying and microwaving were effective in eliminating colonies. Groups 1 and 2 were statistically similar to each other (p > 0.05) and differed significantly from group 3 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The 0.12% chlorhexidine solution spray and 7 minutes of microwave irradiation were almost equally effective for disinfection of pacifiers and toothbrushes.

How to cite this article

Chamele J, Bhat C, Saraf T, Jadhav A, Beg A, Jagtap C, Ubeja R, Patil P. Efficacy of Microwaves and Chlorhexidine for Disinfection of Pacifiers and Toothbrushes: An in vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2012;13(5):690-694.


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