THE USE OF A TRICLOSAN COPOLYMER DENTIFRICE MAY RETARD THE PROGRESSION OF PERIODONTITIS/

The present investigation was performed to examine if triclosan and a copolymer, incorporated in a dentifrice and used by periodontitis-susc eptible subjects could influence clinical symptoms characteristic of r ecurrent periodontitis. 60 subjects, 34 to 67 years of age, were recru ited for the study. They were randomly selected from a group of patien ts previously treated for advanced periodontal disease. This treatment had included oral hygiene instruction, subgingival debridement, but n o surgical therapy. The patients had, during a 3-5 year period followi ng active therapy, been enrolled in a maintenance care program but had , at various intervals, exhibited signs of recurrent periodontitis. Th e patients were stratified into 2 balanced groups with respect to mean probing pocket depth. The test group, included 30 individuals who use d a dentifrice containing triclosan/copolymer/fluoride, i.e. 0.3% tric losan, 2% copolymer and 1100 ppm F from 0.243% sodium fluoride (Colgat e Total(R)). The control group also included 30 subjects who used a de ntifrice identical to the one used in the test group but without the t riclosan/copolymer content. Following the baseline examination, includ ing clinical and radiographical assessments, all volunteers received d etailed information on how to brush their teeth in a proper way. This information was repeated on an individual need basis during the course of the subsequent 36 months. No professional subgingival therapy was delivered between the baseline and the 36-month examinations, but the subjects were recalled every 3 months. Re-examinations were performed after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of the trial. A 2nd set of radiographs was obtained at the final examination, i.e., at 36 months. The results demonstrated that in subjects susceptible to periodontal disease, met iculous, self-performed, supragingival plaque control maintained over a 3-year period failed to prevent recurrent periodontitis. In a simila r group of subjects and plaque control program, however, the daily use of a triclosan-containing dentifrice reduced (i) the frequency of dee p periodontal pockets, and (ii) the number of sites that exhibited add itional probing attachment and bone loss.