The effect of a dentifrice containing soluble pyrophosphate and a copolymer on calculus deposit: a six-month clinical study.

A six-month, double blind, cross over clinical study was conducted to compare the effect of a commercially available anticalculus dentifrice and a placebo dentifrice on supragingival calculus deposits. Fifty adult subjects who entered the study were given an oral prophylaxis and were assigned to use either pyrophosphate/copolymer toothpaste or a placebo toothpaste for a period of three months. They were then scored for calculus deposits using the Volpe-Manhold method, received a second oral prophylaxis and used the alternate dentifrice for a second three month period of time. The subjects were again scored for calculus deposits and the study was completed. The results indicated that pyrophosphate/copolymer toothpaste reduced supragingival calculus formation by 37.07%, as compared to the placebo dentifrice. This reduction was significant at the 99% level of confidence.