EFFICACY OF A DENTIFRICE AND ORAL RINSE CONTAINING SANGUINARIA EXTRACT IN CONJUNCTION WITH INITIAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY

In the treatment of periodontal disease initial therapy aims at reduci ng marginal inflammation so allowing assessment of residual disease an d further treatment options. The aim of the present study was to deter mine whether the use of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguin aria extract led to a more rapid resolution of gingival inflammation f ollowing initial therapy. Thirty-four subjects, randomly assigned to o ne of two treatment groups, took part in this randomized double-blind parallel study. All subjects received initial therapy including oral h ygiene instruction and scaling and root planing as required. One group also received an active dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguina ria extract (an antiplaque agent) and zinc chloride. The other group r eceived a placebo dentifrice and oral rinse. The gingival index (GI), plaque index (PLI) and probing pocket depths (PD) were recorded at six sites per tooth at baseline, two weeks after initial therapy and six weeks after initial therapy. There was no significant difference betwe en the groups for any of the parameters at the baseline examination. T wo weeks following initial therapy both groups showed a statistically significant increase in the number of sites with PLI of 0 or 1 (p <0.0 001) and a statistically significant increase in the number of sites w ith a GI of 0 or 1 (that is, no bleeding on probing), (p <0.0001). Als o there was a statistically significant increase in the number of site s with probing depths less than or equal to 3 mm (p <0.0001) compared with baseline. These changes were maintained through to six weeks post therapy. There was no significant advantage to the sanguinaria group. Results demonstrate that initial therapy in the form of oral hygiene instruction, scaling and root planing leads to a significant improveme nt:in periodontal status which is maintained at least in the-short ter m. Further, Use of a dentifrice and oral rinse containing sanguinaria did not improve the efficacy of initial therapy.