Comparison of the clinical anticaries efficacy of an 1100 NaF silica-based dentifrice containing triclosan and a copolymer to an 1100 NaF silica-based dentifrice without those additional agents: a study on adults in California.

Recent years have seen much work in the development of dentifrices containing the antimicrobial agent triclosan, a broad spectrum antibacterial agent manufactured for use in oral products by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Studies have shown that the incorporation of this agent into dental products, in combination with a PVM/MA copolymer (the non-proprietary designation for a polyvinylmethyl ether/maleic acid copolymer), can provide several important dental therapeutic benefits, including an antigingivitis effect. Much research on the therapeutic benefits of such dentifrices has been reported in the literature. The present study is a component of a large-scale program of clinical research to investigate the anticaries effectiveness of fluoride dentifrices containing 0.3% triclosan and 2.0% PVM/MA copolymer. The study included two treatment groups, each consisting of adults living within a 50 mile radius of Loma Linda, California, who were assigned to the use of one of the following sodium fluoride (NaF) dentifrices: 1) a dentifrice containing 0.3% triclosan and 2.0% PVM/MA copolymer in a 0.243% NaF/silica (1100 ppm F) base; or 2) a dentifrice containing 0.243% NaF/silica (1100 ppm F). Conducted in accordance with the guidelines for caries clinical studies published by the Council on Dental Therapeutics of the American Dental Association, the study employed clinical diagnostic criteria as described in the August, 1987 National Institute of Dental Research (NIH/NIDR) publication. Dental radiographs were not employed. Principal comparisons of the dentifrices tested were implemented through the construction of 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of mean 3-year caries increments, using Fieller's theorem. Of those subjects who met the initial inclusion/exclusion criteria for this study, 1,542 were available for the 36-month examination. DFS (resp., DFT) increments over this period were 2.07 (0.63) for the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice, and 2.16 (0.68) for the dentifrice without those additives. The confidence interval calculations for both incremental DFS and DFT support the conclusion that a dentifrice containing 0.3% triclosan and 2.0% PVM/MA copolymer in a 0.243% NaF/silica (1100 ppm F) base provides a level of anticaries efficacy which is "at least as good as" that provided by a dentifrice containing 1100 NaF/silica without those additive agents. As such, the results of this clinical study clearly indicate that the addition of triclosan and a copolymer to a 1100 NaF/silica dentifrice does not compromise its anticaries efficacy.

A comparison of proximal plaque removal using floss and interdental brushes.

The removal of interproximal plaque was compared using a standard toothbrush alone, a toothbrush with unwaxed dental floss and a toothbrush with an interdental brush. 30 previously treated periodontal patients were given the cleaning aids in a three-way crossover study design. After each 1 month trial period, scores for gingivitis, buccal/lingual plaque and proximal plaque were recorded. Mean GI scores for subjects were 0.37 using the toothbrush only, 0.36 using the toothbrush with floss and 0.32 using the toothbrush with the interdental brush. Mean buccal/lingual plaque scores were 0.64 using the toothbrush only, 0.62 using the toothbrush with floss and 0.51 using the toothbrush with the interdental brush. Mean plaque scores were 2.32 with the toothbrush only, 1.71 using the toothbrush with floss and 1.22 using the toothbrush with the interdental brush. Statistically significant differences were seen in proximal plaque scores between the 3 treatment groups. The results indicate that the interdental brush used in combination with a toothbrush is more effective in the removal of plaque from proximal tooth surfaces than a toothbrush used alone or in combination with dental floss.

Age and sex effects on taste of sucrose, NaCl, citric acid and caffeine.

A procedure combining forced choice discrimination with intensity scaling served to evaluate taste perception of sucrose, NaCl, citric acid and caffeine in 24 young and 24 geriatric subjects. Each group was divided equally by sex. No overall sex differences occurred for taste discrimination, and suprathreshold taste intensity scaling for sucrose and NaCl did not differ by sex or age. However, young adults generally discriminated lower concentrations of citric acid and caffeine from water blanks than did geriatric subjects. Younger subjects judged suprathreshold concentrations of caffeine significantly more intense, as did young females compared to young males; similarly, young females judged citric acid as stronger than did older males. The present suggest that age and gender are major factors in sour and bitter perception.

Reduction of enamel solubility by sodium monophosphate.

The preponderance of evidence indicates that sodium monofluorophosphate exerts a highly beneficial effect on dental caries incidence and enamel solubility. Optimal effects are obtained with a concentration of 4 X 10(3) ppm fluoride, by a four-minute application and by adjusting the pH to 4.0. The reaction of sodium monofluorophosphate with enamel is not temperature dependent. Sodium monofluorophosphate is significantly more protective than sodium fluoride in aqueous solutions at all equivalent fluoride concentrations and in pastes at concentrations exceeding 8 X 10(3) ppm fluoride.

Fluoride in human parotid saliva.

Gustatory stimulation was used to collect parotid saliva in an ascending flow rate pattern. F concentration was found to be independent of rate of flow. The F level in unstimulated parotid saliva, collected before the stimulate samplings, was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than that for the stimulated collections. It is suggested that this is an apparent increase based on the movement of water out of the lumen, which is in turn triggered by sodium reabsorption. The level of F in unstimulated saliva increased almost tenfold within one hour after the oral administration of 10 mg of F, and a significant (P less than 0.01) increase persisted even at 24 hours after administration of the dosage.

Parotid saliva acid phosphatase in health and disease.

Acid phosphatase levels in serum from 5 patients with prostatic carcinoma were diagnostically higher than those from 5 patients who had undergone prostatectomy. The levels for saliva when compared with those from normal subjects for stimulated (314) and unstimulated (50) salivas could not serve as an index of serum concentration.

Fluoride in dog parotid saliva after intravenous administration of sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and calcium fluoride.

Sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, or calcium fluoride, in amounts equivalent to 0.5 mg/kg, were given intravenously to dogs and the effect on parotid saliva F was determined. Significant (P less than 0.01) differences in saliva F levels were related to the ionization of NaF, the hydrolysis of the PO3F ion, and the insolubility of CaF2.

Environmental lighting and human salivary gland function.

Three experiments were conducted to (a) determine the effect of light deprivation on submandibular flow, (b) test for accommodation in darkness-induced parotid flow-rate depression, and (c) evaluate the effects of lights of widely varying intensities on parotid flow. Light deprivation decreased submandibular flow rate from 0.146 ml/min to 0.045 ml/min, a decrease of 69%. It is suggested that photic input through the retina provides stimulation to the salivary glands in the human through the superior cervical ganglion in a system similar to that present for the pineal. This implies that the sympathetic nervous system functions in the regulation of a component of the resting flow from both the parotid and submandibular glands. Series of parotid saliva samples collected in darkness did not reveal a pattern suggestive of accommodation to darkness. The effect of darkness on flow is as strong in the first sample as in those collected later under darkness. Reinstitution of light brings immediate restoration of the routine level of unstimulated salivary flow. A light intensity as low as 0.1 fc is sufficient to maintain the usual level of resting parotid flow. Increasing intensity up to 150 fc did not significantly increase this rate of flow.