The effect of a triclosan-containing dentifrice on the progression of periodontal disease in an adult population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of unsupervised, long-term use of a 0.3% triclosan/2% copolymer dentifrice on the progression of periodontal disease in a general adult population.


METHODS
Five hundred and four volunteers were enrolled in a double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Participants were matched for disease status, plaque index, age and gender. At the baseline examination, probing pocket depths and relative attachment levels were recorded and participants were assigned to either the test or control group. Re-examinations took place after 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Subgingival plaque samples were collected at each examination and assayed for Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Prevotella intermedia. A generalised linear model was used to analyse the data, with a number of covariates thought to influence the responses included as the possible confounding effects.


RESULTS
The triclosan/copolymer dentifrice had a significant effect in subjects with interproximal probing depths > or =3.5 mm, where it significantly reduced the number of sites with probing depths > or =3.5 mm at the following examination, when compared with the control group (p<0.001). Furthermore, this effect increased with increasing numbers of affected sites. There was no effect of the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice in individuals without probing depths > or =3.5 mm at the previous examination. Other factors significantly affecting probing pocket depths (PPD) included increasing age, smoking and presence of P. gingivalis. PPD > or =3.5 mm were positively associated with loss of attachment some 2 years later.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that in a normal adult population, unsupervised use of a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice is effective in slowing the progression of periodontal disease.
Cullinan
M P
MP
The University of Queensland School of Dentistry, Oral Care Research Programme, Brisbane, Australia. m.cullinan@mailbox.uq.edu.au
Westerman
B
B
Hamlet
S M
SM
Palmer
J E
JE
Faddy
M J
MJ
Seymour
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000517:prevention & control; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012907:Smoking; D014260:Triclosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003802:Dentifrices; D014260:Triclosan