The Chemical agents which act on the Plaque ultrastructurally and prevent the formation of Plaque are usefull in Prevention than in a cure.

Classification of Chemical Plaque Control Agents:

First Generation Anti Plaque Agents:

These are capable of reducing plaque upto 20-50 %. They exhibit poor retention within the mouth.

Ex. Antibiotics, Phenols, Quaternary Ammonium compounds and Sanguanarine.

Second Generation Anti Plaque Agents:

They produce an overall plaque reduction of about 70-90% and these are better retained than those of the first generation. These exhibit betterretention by oral tissues and show slow release properties.

Ex. Bisbiguanides (Chlorhexidine).

Third Generation Anti Plaque Agents:

They block binding of microorganisms to the tooth or to each other. They have poor retention capacity when compared to the Second generation Chlorhexidine.

Ex. Delmopinol.

Apart from these we also have

1. Enzymes: Ex: Mucinase, dehydrate pancreas, Mutanase, Dextranase, Lactoperoxidase, Thiocyanate Dynthetase.
2. Povidine Iodine