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 glyci ne have been developed that possess both antimicrobial and pro-healing properties. The purpose of the present study was to determine the eff ects of one of these compounds, 8.5% (w/v) sodium N, N-bis-2 (hydroxyl ethyl) aminoacetate (SBHA) with 0.3% (w/v) NaOH (SBHAN) on ligature-in duced gingival inflammation in the beagle dog. Fifteen purebred beagle dogs were subjected to a 14-day oral hygiene regimen, consisting of m anual scaling and daily toothbrushing with plain pumice. Gingival infl ammation was then initiated by tying ligatures around 12 study teeth p er dog and by placing the Jogs on water-softened dog chow. After 30 da ys, ligatures were removed, dogs were placed on a hard diet and random ly assigned to five treatment groups by the flip of two coins. The fiv e 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 spra y bottles to shield their identity from the examiner Treatment consist ed of a daily aerosol application of 2 ml of each solution in a calibr ated spray bottle to the affected teeth. The following measures were t aken from the dogs at baseline (after hygienic phase), 30 days after i nitiation of gingival inflammation (before ligature removal), and 2 we eks and 4 weeks after ligature removal: 1) plaque index (PI); 2) gingi val index (GT); 3) probing depths (PD); 4) relative attachment levels (RAL); and 5) gingival crevicular fluid volume (GCF). Analysis of subg ingival plaque for anaerobic and aerobic colony forming units/ml was a lso performed at each time point. Gingival biopsies were performed, se ctioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to quantify the inflamm atory cell infiltrate (ICI). After ligature placement, increases were observed in PI, GI, PD, RAL, GCE aerobic and anaerobic subgingival mic robial 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 afte r 4 weeks of treatment with each agent, however, revealed that 8.5% SB HAN was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than water, 4.3% SBHAN , or 8.5% SBHA in reducing PI, GI, PD, and GCE but not RAL or ICI. Mor eover, 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 histologicall y in any of the dogs during the course of the investigation. These dat a suggest that further investigation in a larger study population of t he potential of SBHAN as an anti-gingivitis compound is warranted.