A short-term study of the effects of SBHAN, a novel compound, on gingival inflammation in the beagle dog.

Unique hydroxyl ion-modulating compounds based on the amino acid glycine have been developed that possess both antimicrobial and pro-healing properties. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of one of these compounds, 8.5% (w/v) sodium N, N-bis-2 (hydroxylethyl) aminoacetate (SBHA) with 0.3% (w/v) NaOH (SBHAN) on ligature-induced gingival inflammation in the beagle dog. Fifteen purebred beagle dogs were subjected to a 14-day oral hygiene regimen, consisting of manual scaling and daily toothbrushing with plain pumice. Gingival inflammation was then initiated by tying ligatures around 12 study teeth per dog and by placing the dogs on water-softened dog chow. After 30 days, ligatures were removed, dogs were placed on a hard diet and randomly assigned to five treatment groups by the flip of two coins. The five treatments included: 1) distilled, pyrogen-free water; 2) 8.5% (w/v) SBHAN; 3) 4.3% (w/v) SBHAN; 4) 0.12% chlorhexidine; and 5) 8.5% SBHA (w/v) (SBHAN without added NaOH). Solutions were placed in opaque spray bottles to shield their identity from the examiner. Treatment consisted of a daily aerosol application of 2 ml of each solution in a calibrated spray bottle to the affected teeth. The following measures were taken from the dogs at baseline (after hygienic phase), 30 days after initiation of gingival inflammation (before ligature removal), and 2 weeks and 4 weeks after ligature removal: 1) plaque index (PI); 2) gingival index (GI); 3) probing depths (PD); 4) relative attachment levels (RAL); and 5) gingival crevicular fluid volume (GCF). Analysis of subgingival plaque for anaerobic and aerobic colony forming units/ml was also performed at each time point. Gingival biopsies were performed, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to quantify the inflammatory cell infiltrate (ICI). After ligature placement, increases were observed in PI, GI, PD, RAL, GCF, aerobic and anaerobic subgingival microbial counts, and ICI. After ligature removal, spontaneous resolution of gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation around the teeth of all dogs was observed with any treatment. Statistical analysis (Tukey's pairwise comparisons) of the mean PI, GI, PD, RAL, ICI, and GCF after 4 weeks of treatment with each agent, however, revealed that 8.5% SBHAN was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than water, 4.3% SBHAN, or 8.5% SBHA in reducing PI, GI, PD, and GCF, but not RAL or ICI. Moreover, 0.12% chlorhexidine was more effective than water, 4.3% SBHAN, or 8.5% SBHA at reducing GI, PD, and GCF, but not PI, RAL, or ICI. No adverse reactions to the SBHAN were observed visually or histologically in any of the dogs during the course of the investigation. These data suggest that further investigation in a larger study population of the potential of SBHAN as an anti-gingivitis compound is warranted.