Effect of a combination of amine/stannous fluoride dentifrice and mouthrinse in periodontal maintenance patients.

AIM

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of using a dentifrice and mouthrinse containing amine fluoride (AmF) and stannous fluoride (SnF(2)) in a group of periodontal maintenance patients. Efficacy parameters were plaque, gingival inflammation, pocket depth and attachment loss. An additional parameter was development of stain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 80 patients who had been treated for moderate-to-severe periodontitis agreed to participate in this study. Subjects received supportive periodontal therapy at regular intervals of 3-4 months for at least a period of 1 year. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: (1). the test group used an AmF/SnF(2) dentifrice and mouthrinse and (2). the control group used a sodium fluoride (NaF)-containing dentifrice and mouthrinse. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

RESULTS

The mean plaque index score after 3 months in the test group (0.24) was significantly lower than that in control group (0.34) (p<or=0.05), a difference that was maintained throughout the remainder of the study. In terms of bleeding on probing, at no point in time were significant differences between test and control group found. No significant differences were noted between the two groups, nor were there any significant changes in comparison with baseline values with respect to pocket depth and attachment level. At baseline, the mean percentage of sites with no staining was 98% for both the test and control groups. At all further assessments, the staining in both groups was elevated as compared with baseline. Smoking did not affect the outcome of the study.

CONCLUSION

The combined use of an AmF/SnF(2) dentifrice and mouthrinse did not affect the parameters of inflammation (bleeding upon marginal probing and probing pocket depth), but it has shown to be more effective in terms of plaque reduction when compared with the use of an NaF dentifrice and mouthrinse in a group of periodontal patients placed under regular maintenance care.