Antiplaque/antigingivitis efficacy and safety of a cetylpyridinium chloride/zinc gluconate mucoadhesive gel. Results of a 6-month clinical trial.

This article presents the results of a controlled clinical trial evaluating a new at-home treatment to improve gingival health. Designed for overnight application at the gingival margins and in the interproximal spaces, the product is a mucoadhesive gel containing 0.10% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and 0.592% zinc gluconate (ZG). The authors assessed the efficacy and safety of the CPC/ZG gel in adults with low-to-moderate gingival and plaque index scores by comparing clinical and laboratory findings for subjects using the CPC/ZG gel with those for subjects using the control gel (0% CPC and 0.592% ZG). Clinical findings at 3 and 6 months showed statistically significant improvements in two of the three major indices of gingival health in the CPC/ZG group compared with the control group. The performance of the treatment gel was supported by results of microbial analyses of plaque samples.

Clinical efficacy evaluation of calcium, phosphate, and sodium bicarbonate on surface-enamel smoothness and gloss.

This clinical study evaluated the effectiveness of a fluoride dentifrice containing calcium, phosphate, and sodium bicarbonate for improving surface-enamel smoothness and gloss relative to a commercially available fluoride and silica-containing dentifrice. Balancing for baseline surface-enamel roughness and gloss, 113 healthy adult volunteers who met the inclusion criterion for daily acidic drink consumption were randomized to receive 1 of the 2 products. Subjects brushed their teeth using the assigned dentifrice and a soft-bristled adult toothbrush for 1 minute twice daily for 3 months. Surface-enamel roughness and gloss were evaluated at baseline and after 1 and 3 months of brushing twice daily. Within-treatment comparisons showed longitudinal improvement by the test dentifrice in tooth-surface roughness and gloss at the 1-month and 3-month examinations. After 3 months of use, the test dentifrice exhibited a highly significant improvement in gloss (23.4%, P < .0001) and surface roughness (13.7%, P < .0001) over baseline. The control dentifrice showed no significant improvement longitudinally in either parameter. Between-group comparisons adjusted for baseline demonstrated a significantly (P < .0001) greater improvement in tooth-surface roughness and gloss for the test dentifrice. The results indicate that the fluoride dentifrice containing calcium, phosphate, and sodium bicarbonate is effective in improving tooth-surface smoothness and gloss with regular use.

Disability self-assessment and upper quarter muscle balance between female dental hygienists and non-dental hygienists.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to compare disability self-assessment and upper quarter muscle balance female dental hygienists and non dental hygienist females. The upper quarter was operationally defined as the shoulder and neck region. Muscle balance was operationally defined as muscle flexibility and muscle performance. METHODS: A convenience sample of 41 working dental hygienists and 46 non dental hygienists participated in the study. Muscle flexibility of the upper quarter was measured by inclinometry or standard muscle length testing. Muscle performance was measured by timing the duration of four statically maintained positions. Subjects filled out the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPNPQ), which is a disability self-assessment. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used during data analysis to adjust for the mean age difference between the dental hygienist group (38.0 years) and the non-dental hygienist group (29.3 years). RESULTS: The results of this pilot study suggest that female dental hygienists are more likely than non dental hygienist females to develop tightness in the upper trapezius (p = 0.007) and the levator scapula (p = 0.01) of the non dominant upper quarter and lower fibers of the pectoralis major of the dominant upper quarter (p = 0.03) Muscle performance trends in the dental hygienist group supported muscle balance theory that short muscles remain strong while lengthened muscles become weak. The dental hygienist group had higher disability scores in all nine parts of the NPNPQ compared to the non-dental hygienist group, five of which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study suggest that muscle imbalances in the upper quarter are more common in female dental hygienists than in female non dental hygienists and may contribute to the numerous upper quarter pathologies associated with the practice of dental hygiene. Further research is needed to determine if upper quarter strengthening and flexibility exercises performed by dental hygienists can reduce disability self-assessment.

Reducing bacterial counts in dental unit waterlines: distilled water vs. antimicrobial agents.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated five chemical disinfectants to compare their abilities to improve dental unit waterline quality and assess their effects, if any, on the biofilm layer. METHODS: Sixty new dental units, with a closed-circuit water system, were used to compare microbial levels in DUWLs treated with five antimicrobials: Listerine, Bio 2000, Rembrandt, Dentosept, and sodium fluoride to a control group of sterile distilled water alone over a six-week period. For all units, the waterlines were filled with solution, left overnight, and then flushed for 30 seconds with sterile distilled water the following morning prior to patient treatment. Waterlines were examined for biofilm buildup using scanning electron microscopy and colony-forming-unit counts. RESULTS: The sodium fluoride and the four chemical antimicrobials reduced the microbial count to 200 cfu/ml or less. Only samples taken from dental units receiving the control treatment (distilled water with no added antimicrobial) failed to meet ADA's stated goal. Examination of the SEMs revealed an apparent decrease in the biofilm mass but not elimination, despite repeated treatment with the four antimicrobial materials. CONCLUSIONS: Even in a closed-circuit water system, distilled water alone cannot reduce microbial contamination of dental treatment water from dental unit waterlines to the 200 cfu/ml ADA stated goal. However, water treated with Listerine mouthrinse, Rembrandt mouthrinse, Bio 2000, 0.5 percent sodium fluoride and Dentosept, did meet the microbial reduction goal. The biofilm apparently was reduced in volume, but not entirely eliminated. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The ADA goal of a maximum of 200 cfu/ml was achieved using any of five chemical antimicrobials and distilled water in a closed-water system. Despite the successful reduction in microbial contamination of the dental treatment water, the biofilm was not completely eliminated. Biofilm elimination and prevention would be needed through some other means.

Reducing bacterial counts in dental unit waterlines: tap water versus distilled water.

BACKGROUND: The maximum recommended level of microbial contamination of water from dental unit waterlines (DUWL) is 200 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL). This article addresses the importance of water selection in achieving that standard. METHODS: Microbial contamination in water samples from 75 new dental units, with a closed-circuit water system, were compared using combinations of tap water and sterile distilled water with and without two chemical disinfectants (bleach and 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, Bio2000) over a six-week period. Baseline tap water samples were collected and tested initially. RESULTS: The microbial plate counts of seven tap water specimens (controls) ranged from 4 to 95 CFU/mL. These results were well below both the 500 CFU/mL standard for public drinking water and the 200 CFU/mL goal for dental treatment water. However, when passed through dental units, no significant bacterial reduction was achieved for samples of tap water (Group 1), tap water treated with bleach (Group 2), or tap water treated with Bio2000 (Group 4). Only water samples from dental units using Bio2000 alone (Group 3) or a combination of sterile, distilled water with Bio2000 (Group 5) met or exceeded the 200 CFU/mL standard. CONCLUSIONS: Using tap water alone or tap water with bleach did not improve water quality. However, the American Dental Association (ADA) standard for reduced microbial contamination of dental unit waterlines was met using Bio2000 and distilled water treated with Bio2000. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The ADA standard of 200 CFU/mL was achieved using a closed water system and distilled water treated with Bio2000. Using 100% Bio2000 is also effective, but more costly.