[Anticalculus dentifrices. A new era in preventive dentistry?].

Anticalculus toothpastes are available on the market. Toothpastes with Zinc compounds interfere mainly with the plaque formation. Dentifrices containing pyrophosphate give the highest reductions in calculus formation. The inclusion of pyrophosphate in a fluoride containing dentifrice did not interfere with the cariostatic action of fluoride on tooth enamel. The influence of anticalculus dentifrices on root caries and root hypersensitivity are, so far, not documented. Fundamentally, a lot of doubt still exists about the precise role of supragingival calculus formation in the onset of periodontal disease.