Clinical and Antibacterial Effect of a new Toothgel on 4-day plaque regrowth

Objectives: The purpose of this double blind, crossover randomised clinical study was to examine the efficacy of Salvitop^®-Gel (SAL) on supragingival plaque regrowth and biofilm vitality compared to Parodur^®-Gel (PAR) and Meridol^®med 0.2%CHX (CHX).
Methods: The study was conducted according to the guidelines of GCP. After professional oral prophylaxis 24 volunteers refrained from all mechanical oral hygiene measures for the following 96 hours, but used instead one of the three randomized allocated test product. Salvitop^®-Gel (SAL) or Parodur^®-Gel (PAR) were applied on teeth and gingiva, while the positive control Meridol^®med 0.2% CHX solution (CHX) was rinsed. After 24 and 96 hours plaque index was assessed (PlI1, PlI2) and a plaque sample was taken and analyzed microbiologically to evaluate biofilm vitality (VF1, VF2). Plaque Area (PA) of the front teeth, which was planimetrically recorded from disclosed teeth after 96 hours, served as additional clinical parameter. After a washout period of 10 day, a further cycle with an other product was started.
Results: Compared to PAR the SAL gel revealed similar values in plaque index (PlI), which were not statistically significant (p<0.05). Biofilm vitality (VF) resulted in values of 64.95%±15.13 (VF1) and 60.68%±13.92 (VF2) for SAL and 55.91%±13.08 (VF1) and 57.09%±16.68 (VF2) for PAR, which were not significantly different (p=0.0715 and p=0.6331). Comparing PAR and SAL with CHX, CHX showed significant lower values in all parameters (p<0.05).
Conclusions: SAL showed similar values in PlI, VF and PA as PAR, which was however not as pronounced as CHX.