A 6-MONTH HOME-USAGE TRIAL OF 0.1-PERCENT AND 0.2-PERCENT DELMOPINOL MOUTHWASHES .2. EFFECTS ON THE PLAQUE MICROFLORA

The effects of 0.1% and 0.2% delmopinol mouthwashes on supragingival p laque flora were investigated in a 6-month home-use study. 141 subject s were studied from whom plaque was collected at baseline, 12, 24 and 36 weeks. Overall, there were no consistent effects on microscopic or total counts. However, there was a significant reduction in the propor tion of dextran-producing streptococci in the active groups compared t o the control group throughout treatment. There was no colonisation by Candida or Gram-negative aerobic bacilli in the active groups nor was there any decrease in susceptibility to delmopinol. Delmopinol appear s to mediate its anti-plaque effect without causing a major shift in b acterial populations, although dextran-producing bacteria appear to be affected, which may have relevance to this agent's mode of action.