The propensity of individual saliva to cause extrinsic staining in vitro--a developmental method.
OBJECTIVE
To detect any differences in the propensity of individual saliva to cause in vitro staining by chlorhexidine and tea.


METHODS
Unstimulated human saliva was collected on a daily basis and used to coat optically clear Perspex specimens. Specimens were subjected to the original chlorhexidine/tea staining model described by Prayitno and Addy (Journal of Periodontal Research 1979;14:397-402), and cycles repeated until a maximum optical density of two was reached.


RESULTS
Stain development increased incrementally with increasing cycles. Differences in chlorhexidine/tea staining between subjects were obvious by cycle 3 where the lowest 'stainer' had 56% less stain than the highest 'stainer'. Highly significant differences between subjects were seen during staining cycles 3-6, but not at cycles 7 and 8.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro stain formation using saliva from different individuals occurred at differing rates when all other variables were standardised. The properties of saliva accounting for this are still unknown, and warrant further study.
Division of Restorative Dentistry, Bristol Dental School, Lower Maudlin Street, BS1 2LY, Bristol, UK. sarah.sheen@bristol.ac.uk
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S
Sheen
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Banfield
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Addy
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013662:Tea / Q000009:adverse effects; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D013662:Tea; D002710:Chlorhexidine