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Review
. 2025 Mar 12;17(3):e80445.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.80445. eCollection 2025 Mar.

Chlorhexidine Gluconate in Pediatric Endodontic Treatment: A Scoping Review

Tran Thi My Hanh  1 , Nguyen Duy Hieu  1 , Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc  1 , Le Kha Anh  2   1 , Tran Phuong Thao  2   1 , Dinh Nguyen My Hau  1 , Dao Thi Hang Nga  1
Affiliations
Review

Chlorhexidine Gluconate in Pediatric Endodontic Treatment: A Scoping Review

Tran Thi My Hanh et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) is widely recognized for its antimicrobial properties and potential use as an irrigant in endodontic treatment. However, its specific role in the treatment of primary teeth remains uncertain. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CHX in cleaning the root canal system in pediatric endodontic treatment. A total of 46 studies were initially identified from three databases: PubMed (5), ScienceDirect (2), and Cochrane (0). Following selection based on PRISMA-ScR 2018 guidelines, seven studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. The findings indicate that CHX 2% demonstrates good antibacterial efficacy but lacks the ability to dissolve inorganic tissue. Additionally, its safety and effectiveness in dissolving organic tissue in primary teeth have yet to be thoroughly investigated. The minimum irrigation volume when using CHX is 2 ml per root canal, which ensures optimal effectiveness in bacterial elimination and improves treatment outcomes. While CHX shows promise as an endodontic irrigation solution for primary teeth, further research is necessary to fully understand its potential benefits and limitations.

Keywords: "pediatric dentistry"[mesh]); chlorhexidine digluconate; endodontic treatment; primary teeth root canal; scoping review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram of studies screening and selection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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