The effect of perioperative Chlorhexidine digluconate on the frequency of infectious complications through stage II was examined. Chlorhexidine digluconate was used perioperatively in 54.6% of patients (52.5% of implants) in a Dental Implant Clinical Research Group study with a database of 2,641 implants (595 patients). With Chlorhexidine digluconate,there was a significant reduction in the number of infectious complications (4.1% vs 8.7%). Two percent of implants failed in the absence of an infectious complication, whereas 12% with infectious complications failed. This sixfold difference is highly significant. Chlorhexidine digluconate may reduce microbial complications when used in the immediate perioperative period.