Arrest of Root Caries Lesions with a Chlorhexidine-fluoride Varnish

Objectives: This clinical study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a chlorhexidine-fluoride varnish (Cervitec F®: CF; IvoclarVivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) for arrest of root caries lesions.
Methods: In this two-arm randomized, controlled double-blind study, 23 patients (mean age 68.2±9.0 years; male: n=13) with two root caries lesions (ICDAS II score: 1 or 2) were included. Root caries lesions were randomly assigned to two groups according different used varnish (Group I: CF, Group II: placebo). After tooth cleaning, either CF or a placebo varnish was applied once to the exposed root surface for 60 seconds at baseline and in the follow up after 3, 6 and 9 months. The root caries lesions were assessed clinically using the ICDAS II classification (score 1 or 2) and with quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF; QRayCam, Inspector Amsterdam, Netherlands) by one calibrated examiner. QLF images were analyzed regarding demineralization (ΔF in %) and lesion volume (ΔQ in px%µm²) before (= baseline) and at the 6- (t1) and 12-months-follow-ups (t2).
Results: In the CF group, ΔF had significantly decreased at t2 compared to baseline (median ΔF baseline: -12.5, t1: -9.9, t2: -7.8; p<0.012), whereas no changes were seen in the placebo group (median ΔF baseline: -10.4, t1: -7.6, t2: 9.2; p>0.05). For ΔQ, significant changes were seen in the CF group at t1 (median ΔQ: -417; p<0.01) and t2 (median ΔQ: -751; p<0.01) compared to baseline (median ΔQ baseline: -2340). In the placebo group no changes of ΔQ were detected (median ΔQ baseline: -1383, t1: -1273, t2: -1301; p>0.05). The comparison of differences of ΔF and ΔQ from baseline to t1 as well as t2 between both groups were significant (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The used chlorhexidine-fluoride varnish can arrest, respectively prevent progression of root caries lesions efficiently regarding demineralization (ΔF) and lesion volume (ΔQ) over a 12-months observation period.
Supported by Ivoclar-Vivadent.