Can anti-erosion dentifrices also provide effective plaque control?

The Effect of Extrinsic Factors on the Mechanical Behavior and Structure of Elastic Dental Ligatures and Chains

Force provided by elastomers used in orthodontics can be affected by several factors present in the oral cavity. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of mouthwashes, toothbrushing, and smoking in the force decay of such elastomers. Tensile strength, changes in the force continuously exerted, and force decay of elastic chains (Ortho Organizer and Masel Short Power Chain) and elastic ligatures (Dentaurum and Masel) by two separate manufacturers were measured. Measurements were initially made on untreated elastics, followed by exposure to different environmental factors including cigarette smoke, toothbrushing (mechanical plaque control), and two different mouthwashes (chemical plaque control). Changes on the surface of the elastics were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Untreated Masel elastic ligature showed lower tensile strength than Dentaurum elastic ligature (2339 cN vs. 3660 cN), while significantly higher tensile strength was measured for Ortho Organizer elastic chains than Masel chains (2639 cN vs. 1324 cN). The decrease in the elastic force of Masel ligature was greater in response to all external factors compared to Dentaurum. Although brushing with toothpaste and toothbrush impacted the force of both Masel and Ortho organizer ligatures negatively, force degradation was more apparent in the case of the Ortho organizer. Surface changes were more visible when applying Curasept mouthrinse, however force decay was higher in the Corsodyl group. Mechanical and chemical plaque control can influence the tensile strength and force decay of orthodontic elastomers, which should be considered by selecting the elastomers or determining their changing interval for the practice.

DenTiUS Plaque, a Web-Based Application for the Quantification of Bacterial Plaque: Development and Usability Study

Background

In the dentistry field, the analysis of dental plaque is vital because it is the main etiological factor in the 2 most prevalent oral diseases: caries and periodontitis. In most of the papers published in the dental literature, the quantification of dental plaque is carried out using traditional, non-automated, and time-consuming indices. Therefore, the development of an automated plaque quantification tool would be of great value to clinicians and researchers.

Objective

This study aimed to develop a web-based tool called DenTiUS and various clinical indices to evaluate dental plaque levels using image analysis techniques.

Methods

The tool was executed as a web-based application to facilitate its use by researchers. Expert users are free to define experiments, including images from either a single patient (to observe an individual plaque growth pattern) or several patients (to perform a group characterization) at a particular moment or over time. A novel approach for detecting visible plaque has been developed as well as a new concept known as nonvisible plaque. This new term implies the classification of the remaining dental area into 3 subregions according to the risk of accumulating plaque in the near future. New metrics have also been created to describe visible and nonvisible plaque levels.

Results

The system generates results tables of the quantitative analysis with absolute averages obtained in each image (indices about visible plaque) and relative measurements (indices about visible and nonvisible plaque) relating to the reference moment. The clinical indices that can be calculated are the following: plaque index of an area per intensity (API index, a value between 0 and 100), area growth index (growth rate of plaque per unit of time in hours; percentage area/hour), and area time index (the time in days needed to achieve a plaque area of 100% concerning the initial area at the same moment). Images and graphics can be obtained for a moment from a patient in addition to a full report presenting all the processing data. Dentistry experts evaluated the DenTiUS Plaque software through a usability test, with the best-scoring questions those related to the workflow efficiency, value of the online help, attractiveness of the user interface, and overall satisfaction.

Conclusions

The DenTiUS Plaque software allows automatic, reliable, and repeatable quantification of dental plaque levels, providing information about area, intensity, and growth pattern. Dentistry experts recognized that this software is suitable for quantification of dental plaque levels. Consequently, its application in the analysis of plaque evolution patterns associated with different oral conditions, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of various oral hygiene measures, can represent an improvement in the clinical setting and the methodological quality of research studies.

What is the effect of active ingredients in dentifrice on inhibiting the regrowth of overnight plaque? A systematic review

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review was to establish the adjuvant clinical effect of brushing with a dentifrice containing purported active ingredients as compared to a regular sodium fluoride dentifrice with respect to the inhibition of overnight dental plaque regrowth from studies with human participants.

Methods

MEDLINE‐PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched, up to June 2019. The inclusion criteria were controlled clinical trials with participants aged ≥ 18 years in good general health. Studies were included that evaluated the effect of toothbrushing with a dentifrice on the inhibition of overnight dental plaque regrowth when an active ingredient was added to the dentifrice as compared to a common sodium fluoride product. Data were extracted from the eligible studies, the risk of bias was assessed, and a meta‐analysis was performed where feasible.

Result

Independent screening of 213 unique papers resulted in 10 eligible publications that provided 14 comparisons. Stannous fluoride and triclosan dentifrices were found as the active ingredients. The descriptive analysis indicated that all, but two comparisons demonstrated an additional effect on the active‐ingredient dentifrice. The meta‐analysis supported and strengthened these findings. It showed that when plaque was scored digitally, a DiffM was −3.15(95% CI [−4.61:‐1.69], P < .001, prediction interval [−5.07;‐1.24]). When plaque was scored clinically, the difference of means (DiffM) was −0.33(95% CI [−0.49:‐0.16], P < .001, prediction interval [−0.87; 0.21]).

Conclusion

The results of this review demonstrate moderate‐quality evidence that brushing with an active‐ingredient dentifrice with stannous fluoride or triclosan does provide an added clinically relevant effect concerning plaque inhibition capabilities that surpass the effect of a regular sodium fluoride dentifrice.

Effect of toothpaste containing amine fluoride and stannous chloride on the reduction of dental plaque and gingival inflammation. A randomized controlled 12-week home-use study

OBJECTIVES

This single-centre, controlled, randomized, double-blinded clinical study in parallel groups was performed to assess the efficacy of an experimental toothpaste on plaque and gingivitis.

METHODS

In adult subjects with gingivitis, amine fluoride/stannous chloride toothpaste (test) and monofluorophosphate toothpaste (control) were applied twice daily by regular toothbrushing at home. Evaluations of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI) and safety took place at baseline and after 3 and 12 weeks of study product use. After study completion, all subjects received a dental prophylaxis. A descriptive statistical analysis included means and standard deviations. Unpaired t tests compared index reductions between groups at a significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analysis included 240 out of 241 subjects. Baseline mean PI was reduced by 0.87 ± 0.35 in the test group and by 0.65 ± 0.41 in the control group. Within-group differences and between-group differences in index reduction were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Mean GI and mSBI were reduced significantly over time (P < 0.001) with no clinically meaningful differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both toothpastes reduced plaque and gingivitis statistically significant and clinically meaningful over 12 weeks. Compared to the control toothpaste, application of the amine fluoride/stannous chloride toothpaste led to a clinically meaningful and more pronounced plaque reduction.

Randomized in vivo trial evaluating plaque inhibition benefits of an advanced stannous-containing sodium fluoride dentifrice used in conjunction with power brush technology

OBJECTIVE

To compare the plaque inhibition efficacy of a novel stannous-containing sodium fluoride test dentifrice to a standard anticavity negative control dentifrice, when both were used in conjunction with an advanced oscillating-rotating (O/R) power toothbrush.

METHODS

This was a randomized, two-treatment, three-period, double-blind crossover study conducted in a population using an O/R power brush. Subjects brushed twice per day with their assigned dentifrice during the three-treatment periods, each lasting for 17 consecutive days. Each period was separated by a 4-day washout period during which subjects continued to use their O/R power toothbrush. Plaque levels were assessed and averaged amongst three assessments taken on days 15, 16 and 17 at the end of each treatment period using digital plaque imaging analysis. Assessments were carried out on the facial anterior tooth surfaces in the morning before brushing (A.M. prebrush) following whole-mouth brushing (30 s per quadrant) with the assigned dentifrice (A.M. post-brush) and in the afternoon (P.M.).

RESULTS

Twenty-seven subjects were randomized and completed the study. During the 17-day usage period, the stannous-containing test NaF dentifrice demonstrated a statistically significant lower mean plaque area versus the negative control dentifrice at each assessment timepoint; overnight A.M. prebrush was 33.8% lower (P < 0.0001), A.M. post-brush was 21.8% lower (P < 0.01), and P.M. was 29.2% lower (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

A population of O/R power toothbrush users had significantly less plaque coverage for all three measurements when using a stannous-containing NaF dentifrice than when using a negative control (fluoride) dentifrice.