Effect of stannous fluoride and zinc phosphate dentifrice on dental plaque and gingivitis: A randomized clinical trial with 6-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare a stabilized stannous fluoride (SnF) dentifrice with zinc phosphate (Colgate Total) with SnF with zinc lactate and control fluoride dentifrices for gingivitis and plaque control over a 6-month period.

METHODS

A total of 135 adult participants were enrolled in this study. After randomization and blinding of examiners and patients, enrolled participants were provided instructions for use of assigned dentifrice. At 3 visits (0, 3, and 6 months), various gingival and plaque indexes were collected to determine the clinical efficacy of a stabilized SnF dentifrice. These results were compared with a SnF with zinc lactate dentifrice and with a control fluoride dentifrice.

RESULTS

A total of 135 participants completed the study. All groups reported statistically significant reductions in gingival inflammation and improvement in plaque control at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Both SnF dentifrices showed statistically significant reductions in all indexes compared with the control dentifrice (P < .001). However, the test dentifrice showed higher but nonsignificant improvements in plaque and gingival indexes compared with the other SnF dentifrice.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports similar efficacy of a test dentifrice to a commercial SnF-containing dentifrice for plaque control and reduction in gingival inflammation and provides supporting evidence that the test dentifrice maintains its clinical efficacy with change of formulation.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This newly formulated SnF stabilized with zinc phosphate dentifrice may be of benefit to patients in controlling plaque biofilm and gingivitis.