Two-year caries clinical study of the efficacy of novel dentifrices containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound and 1,450 ppm fluoride.

A 2-year double-blind randomized three-treatment controlled parallel-group clinical study compared the anti-caries efficacy of two dentifrices containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound (di-calcium phosphate or calcium carbonate) and 1,450 ppm fluoride (F), as sodium monofluorophosphate, to a control dentifrice containing 1,450 ppm F, as sodium fluoride, in a silica base. The 6,000 participants were from Bangkok, Thailand and aged 6-12 years initially. They were instructed to brush twice daily, in the morning and evening, with their randomly assigned dentifrice. Three trained and calibrated dentists examined the children at baseline and after 1 and 2 years using the National Institute of Dental Research Diagnostic Procedures and Criteria. The number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and surfaces (DMFS) for the three study groups were very similar at baseline, with no statistically significant differences among groups. After 1 year, there were no statistically significant differences in caries increments among the three groups. After 2 years, the two groups using the dentifrices containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound and 1,450 ppm F had statistically significantly (p < 0.02) lower DMFT increments (21.0 and 17.7% reductions, respectively) and DMFS increments (16.5 and 16.5%) compared to the control dentifrice. The differences between the two groups using the new dentifrices were not statistically significant. The results of this pivotal clinical study support the conclusion that dentifrices containing 1.5% arginine, an insoluble calcium compound and 1,450 ppm F provide significantly greater protection against caries lesion cavitation, in a low to moderate caries risk population, than dentifrices containing 1,450 ppm F alone.

Effect of an essential oil-containing dentifrice on established plaque and gingivitis.

A six-months, double-blind, parallel, clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an essential oil containing dentifrice on established plaque and gingivitis compared with a placebo dentifrice. A total of 104 subjects were stratified into two groups according to baseline Quigley-Hein Plaque Index scores and Loe-Silness Gingival Index scores. Each group was randomly assigned to use either an essential oil dentifrice or placebo dentifrice. The subjects were instructed to brush their teeth in the customary manner for 1 minute, twice daily, with the provided dentifrice using a soft-bristle toothbrush. After six months, the essential oil containing dentifrice gave a 25.4% reduction (p < 0.001) in supragingival plaque accumulation and a 19.5% reduction (p < 0.001) in gingivitis compared to the placebo dentifrice.

Host beta-globin gene fragments in crevicular fluid as a biomarker in periodontal health and disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Leukocytes and epithelium are the first line of defense in preventing bacterial invasion into periodontium. Some of these cells die in gingival crevicular fluid, whereupon their DNA is spilled out. The present study was designed to investigate the profile of host beta-globin gene fragments in the gingival crevicular fluid of various periodontal conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Gingival crevicular fluid from 40 teeth with chronic periodontitis, 30 with gingivitis and 22 that were clinically healthy were centrifuged (3,000 g, 10 min). The supernatant (cell-free gingival crevicular fluid) was centrifuged again (13,000 g, 10 min), resulting in the pellet and the supernatant as debris and debris-free fractions, respectively. Specific primers for amplifying 110 bp, 536 bp and 2 kb amplicons of human beta-globin gene were used to investigate host DNA by quantitative and qualitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The periodontitis group showed the largest amount of host beta-globin gene fragments, while the healthy group had the lowest. In the debris and debris-free fractions, the 536 bp and 2 kb amplicons were more often detected in the periodontitis group than in the other groups. Interestingly, the presence of 2 kb amplicon in the debris fraction could be used to discriminate periodontitis from gingivitis and healthy groups because we found it in 85% of periodontitis samples but only in 13% of gingivitis samples, and it was absent in the healthy group. CONCLUSION: This study shows the different DNA profiles of cell-free gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease. It suggests that the quantity and quality of host DNA are dependent on the disease conditions. Therefore, the beta-globin gene fragments in cell-free gingival crevicular fluid may be a potential biomarker of periodontal disease progression.

Effects of a triclosan dentifrice on plaque formation, gingivitis and gingival bleeding in pregnant women: five-month clinical results.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice on plaque formation, gingivitis and gingival bleeding in pregnant subjects. This double-blind clinical study was carried out in 180 women at 3 months of pregnancy. The subjects were stratified into two balanced groups according to their baseline plaque, gingivitis and bleeding scores. Subjects received a thorough dental prophylaxis and were assigned to brush with either a placebo or triclosan dentifrice for five months. They were instructed to brush their teeth as they normally would, twice a day for one minute per brushing. Follow-up examinations after five months of dentifrice use evaluated supragingival plaque, gingivitis and gingival bleeding. After five months, the triclosan dentifrice significantly reduced plaque formation, gingivitis and gingival bleeding by 40.5%, 22.5% and 35.3%, respectively, compared to the placebo group (p<0.05).

Bacterial coronal leakage after obturation with three root canal sealers.

The purpose of this study was to compare the bacterial leakage of root canals obturated with three root canal sealers, using Endodontalis faecalis as a microbial tracer to determine the length of time for bacteria to penetrate through the obturated root canal to the root apex. Seventy-five, single-rooted teeth with straight root canals had the crown cut off at the cementoenamel junction. Root canals were instrumented by a step-back technique. The prepared teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups of 19 teeth each and another 2 groups as positive and negative controls (9 teeth each). The experimental groups were dependent on the sealer used: AH-Plus, Apexit, and Ketac-Endo. The root canals were obturated using a lateral condensation technique. After 24 h the teeth were attached to microcentrifuge tubes with 2 mm of the root apex submerged in Brain Heart Infusion broth in glass test tubes. The coronal portions of the root canal filling materials were placed in contact with E. faecalis. The teeth were observed for bacterial leakage daily for 30 and 60 days. With the chi2 test for comparing pairs of groups at the 0.05 level (p < 0.05), there was no statistical difference between Ketac-Endo and AH-Plus (p > 0.06), but Apexit had significantly higher leakage (p < 0.05) at 30 days. After 60 days there was no statistical difference between Ketac-Endo and Apexit (p > 0.05), but Apexit leaked more than AH-Plus. The conclusion drawn from this experiment was that epoxy resin root canal sealer was found to be more adaptable to the root canal wall and filling material than a calcium hydroxide sealer when bacterial coronal leakage was studied.

Effect of a triclosan/copolymer pre-brush mouthrinse on established plaque formation and gingivitis: a six-month clinical study in Thailand.

A six-month, double-blind parallel clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy on existing plaque and gingivitis of a pre-brush mouthrinse (Colgate Plax, Thailand) containing 0.03% triclosan and 0.13% of a polyvinylmethyl ether/maleic acid (PVM/MA) copolymer in the absence of fluoride, as compared to a matching placebo rinse. A total of 121 subjects were stratified into two balanced groups according to baseline Quigley-Hein Plaque Index scores and Loë-Silness Gingivitis Index scores. Each group was randomly assigned to the use of either the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse or the placebo pre-brush rinse. No subjects received an oral prophylaxis. They were instructed to rinse twice daily for 60 seconds using the provided fluoride dentifrice and soft-bristled toothbrush. After six months' use of their assigned mouthrinse, 118 subjects who completed the study were evaluated for plaque index score and gingivitis index score using the same scoring procedure. After six months, the triclosan/copolymer mouthrinse group provided a 35.48% reduction of plaque (p<0.001) and an 18.82% reduction of gingivitis (p<0.001), as compared to the placebo mouthrinse group. The reduction of the triclosan/copolymer group was most pronounced in the severity manifestation of plaque and gingivitis (p<0.001). The results indicate that twice daily use of a pre-brush mouthrinse containing triclosan/copolymer in the absence of fluoride significantly reduces pre-existing plaque and gingivitis as compared to the placebo rinse.

[Comparison of some subgingival microflora from juvenile periodontitis before and after scaling and root planing].

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Capnocytophaga are subgingival bacteria that have correlation with juvenile periodontitis. Studies were carried out in a group of 20 patients with juvenile periodontitis before, after treatment by scaling, root planing, oral hygiene instruction and 20 patients with healthy gingiva as a control group. Gingival index, plaque index, pocket depth were measured. Subgingival bacteria were counted on selective media and compared by phase contrast microscopy. Before treatment all measurements in the patients and the control group were significantly different (P less than 0.05). In the patients before and after treatment all clinical measurements were significantly different (P less than 0.05) but the amount of A.actinomycetemcomitans and Capnocytophaga were not significantly different (P greater than 0.05). These results indicate that treatment of juvenile periodontitis by scaling, root planing and oral hygiene instruction improve the clinical measurements but are not effective in reducing proportions of subgingival bacteria.

[Salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and their observation after oral preventive measures].

The quantitation of salivary Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) according to Köhler and Bratthall and the evaluation of oral hygiene index (OHI-S) by Greene and Vermillion were examined before and after oral preventive measures in 359 schoolchildren at 7-13 years old, sampled from primary schools in three Amphoes of Phetchabun. At the first examination, it was found that 93.9% of the total schoolchildren had S. mutans and most of them had less than 50 CFU. In addition, 11.4% of the samples had this microorganism more than 100 CFU (Comparable to 10(6) CFU/ml. of saliva) and regarded as a high caries risk group. The average values of OHI-S in different age groups of schoolchildren varied from 1.75 to 2.25 and only 15.9% was classified to be in the group of good oral hygiene (OHI-S,0-1.2). However no significant relationship was recorded between the number of S. mutans and the oral hygiene status (p greater than 0.05). The second examination indicated the improvement of oral hygiene status after preventive measures (p less than 0.05) but the number of S. mutans was not significantly changed (p greater than 0.05).

[Antibacterial effects of CMCP, Cresophene, and formocresol as root canal medications].

This clinical and laboratory study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of camphorated monoparachlorophenol, Cresophene and formocresol. Root canals of anterior teeth with 3-5 mm. rarefied area were instrumented and irrigated until they were ready to be filled. The patients returned every 7 days. Intracanal medicaments were changed until negative culture was obtained. The number of visits was recorded. The comparative effectiveness of the three medicaments were analysed. Results showed no statistical differences of the three medicaments (p greater than 0.1). The antimicrobial activity against bacteria from positive root canal culture of these three antiseptics were assayed by disc diffusion method. The inhibition zone of camphorated mono-parachlorophenol and Cresophene were nearly the same size, but that of formocresol had greater diameter. Using Gram's staining procedure, the majority of bacteria obtained from root canals was identified as gram positive cocci (94.74%).