Earlier this summer, researchers at the University of the Basque Country published a study that concluded that the use of chlorhexidine, a chemical widely used to combat bacteria in tooth extractions and implant placements, has a limited effect.

While chlorhexidine only prevented bacteremia in 12 percent of cases, the researchers still recommended using chlorhexidine because the positive (but minimal) effects outweighed the risks.

I recently spoke to a dentist who begs to disagree. Dr. Robert Martino is part of a team of oral health professionals who have identified a use in dentistry for a technology that is frequently used elsewhere (such as in water treatment). They believe this technology is a much more effective alternative to chlorhexidine, and I wanted to find out why.