Evaluation of a barrier dental sealant in dogs.

A study was conducted in 40 healthy, randomly selected, client-owned, mixed and purebred dogs to assess the efficacy of a barrier dental sealant. All dogs showed evidence of dental plaque, calculus, or gingivitis. The dental sealant was applied to one side of the mouth following a professional teeth cleaning procedure and reapplied weekly for 8-weeks following the cleaning procedure. Dental parameters evaluated included plaque, calculus, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding indices. A statistically significant difference was detected between treated and untreated teeth compared with baseline values for plaque and calculus at weeks 4 and 8, gingivitis at week 4, and gingival bleeding time at week 8. A professional teeth cleaning procedure followed by a single application of the barrier dental sealant and weekly reapplication performed by a veterinarian or veterinary technician provided significant improvement in plaque and calculus indices during an 8-week period.