A six-week study to evaluate the anti-calculus efficacy of a chewing gum containing pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate.
OBJECTIVE
A six-week, double-blind, cross-over clinical study was conducted to compare the effect of a new chewing gum containing pyrophosphate (1%) and tripolyphosphate (1%), versus a control chewing gum on supragingival calculus deposits.


METHODS
Twenty-eight adult subjects (mean age 34 +/- 8 years) who entered the study were given a full oral prophylaxis and were assigned to chew two pieces of gum, four times a day for five minutes. The gum, either a test chewing gum or placebo chewing gum, was randomly assigned and the subjects were directed to chew their assigned gum for six weeks. All participants also received a 12-week supply of a sodium fluoride (0.32%) dentifrice (Colgate). They were then scored for calculus deposits using the modified Volpe-Manhold Calculus Index (VMI) by the same two examiners. At the end of the first six weeks, the subjects received a second oral prophylaxis and used the alternate chewing gum for a second six-week period of time. The subjects were again scored for calculus deposits and the study was completed.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated a mean VMI of 3.65 +/- 2.82 for the test group, and a mean of 4.24 +/- 3.25 for the placebo group. This difference was significant with paired sample t-test (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that chewing gum containing pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate reduced supragingival calculus formation by 13.9%, compared to the placebo chewing gum.
Porciani
Pier Francesco
PF
Dental School, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. piercate@iol.it
Grandini
Simone
S
D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D002638:Chewing Gum; D011756:Diphosphates; D010919:Placebos; D011122:Polyphosphates; C005692:triphosphoric acid