Evaluation of a dental floss containing soluble pyrophosphate on calculus formation using a short-term clinical model

This clinical study compared the effect of a dental floss containing 0.25 m g tetrasodium pyrophosphate per cm and a placebo floss on supragingival cal culus formation using a 6-week. partial-mouth toothshield model. The six lo wer anterior teeth were scaled and polished before each 2-week period (i.e. , pre-trial, washout, trial). During both the pre-trial and trial periods, subjects brushed twice daily with a non-tartar control dentifrice, while a toothshield protected the six test teeth from brushing. After rinsing with water and removing the shield, they flossed the test teeth. All subjects us ed placebo floss during the pre-trial period in order to determine the base line Volpe-Manhold Index (VMI) calculus formation scores, which were used t o balance groups for the trial period. During the trial period, one group u sed the placebo floss, while the second group used the pyrophosphate floss. The final results demonstrated that the pyrophosphate floss significantly inhibited calculus formation between teeth (mesial-distal scores) by 21%, a nd on labial surfaces by 37% relative to the placebo floss.