Chlorhexidine (Implantation-Dental)
   
Chlorhexidine (Implantation-Dental)
US Brand Names
• PerioChip
Description
Chlorhexidine (klor-HEX-i-deen) is used to help treat periodontal disease (a disease of your gums), which is caused by bacteria growing beneath the gum line. Chlorhexidine works by killing the bacteria. Up to eight chlorhexidine implants are placed between your teeth and gums in places where the gum has a deep pocket. Your dentist will place the chlorhexidine implants after your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned.
This medicine is available only with your dentist's prescription, in the following dosage form:
Special Considerations
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For chlorhexidine periodontal implants, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your dentist if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to chlorhexidine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy
Studies on the effects of chlorhexidine periodontal implants have not been done in either humans or animals. Discuss with your doctor whether or not to use the implants while you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether chlorhexidine passes into human breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children
Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of chlorhexidine implants in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of chlorhexidine implants in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Administration
Dosing
The number of chlorhexidine implants inserted will be different for different patients. In addition, the following information includes only the average treatment using chlorhexidine implants. If your treatment is different, do not change it unless your dentist tells you to do so.
It is not necessary to remove the implants; they will dissolve on their own. However, your dentist will want to check the depth of the pockets in your gums every 3 months to see if they need to be treated again.
Precautions
For 10 days after the implants have been inserted, do not floss around the teeth and gums that have been treated . Using floss could push the implants out.
Check with your dentist right away if an implant becomes loose or falls out . Chlorhexidine implants are small, orange-brown rectangular chips that are rounded at one end.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your dentist as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Bleeding, tender, or enlarged gums; cough, congestion or tightness in chest, or wheezing.
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your dentist if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Tooth, gum, or mouth pain, tenderness, aching, throbbing, soreness, discomfort, or sensitivity (mild to moderate).
Less common
Indigestion or upset stomach; sore throat; ulcers or sores in mouth.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your dentist.
November 05, 1998 
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