The effects of three silica dentifrices containing Triclosan on supragingival plaque and calculus formation and on gingivitis

Abstract

A double blind, seven month clinical study was conducted to determine the effects of three Triclosan containing test dentifrices on supragingival plaque, gingivitis and supragingival calculus formation compared to a 0.8 per cent monofluorophosphate-silica control dentifrice. Each test dentifrice contained 0.3 per cent Triclosan; additionally one contained 0.75 per cent zinc citrate, the second contained 2 per cent Gantrez and the third contained 5 per cent pyrophosphate. Subjects were assigned to one of the three test groups or to the control group according to random allocation within nine strata. Subjects were evaluated for supragingival plaque and calculus formation and for gingivitis after one, four and seven months' use of the dentifrices. After seven months, the Triclosan/Gantrez and the Triclosan/pyrophosphate dentifrices each provided a statistically significant reduction of approximately 25 per cent in gingival bleeding compared to the control. Neither dentifrice gave statistically significant reductions in supragingival plaque or calculus formation. In contrast, the Triclosan/zinc citrate dentifrice provided statistically significant reductions of 33 per cent in supragingival plaque, 51 per cent in gingival bleeding and 67 per cent in supragingival calculus formation. The reductions in gingival bleeding and calculus formation were statistically superior to those of the Triclosan/Gantrez and the Triclosan/pyrophosphate products. The results demonstrate that use of the Triclosan/zinc citrate dentifrice over a seven month period provided statistically significant and clinically relevant reductions in supragingival plaque and calculus formation, and control of gingivitis as compared to a control dentifrice.