The effect of a dentifrice containing triclosan and a copolymer on plaque formation and gingivitis: a 14-week clinical study.

One hundred eighteen male and female adult subjects were entered into a 14-week, double-blind clinical study to compare the effect of a dentifrice containing 0.3% triclosan and 2% of a copolymer of methoxyethylene and maleic acid on plaque formation and gingivitis. The subjects were stratified into two balanced groups according to baseline plaque scores. They then received an oral prophylaxis and were assigned to the use of either a placebo dentifrice or the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice for the next 14 weeks. After 6 weeks' use, the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice provided a 21.34% statistically significant (99% level of confidence) reduction in supragingival plaque deposits, as compared to the placebo dentifrice. The triclosan/copolymer dentifrice also provided a 5.49% reduction gingivitis after 6 weeks' use, as compared to the placebo dentifrice. This reduction was not statistically significant. After 14 weeks' use, the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice provided a 38.80% statistically significant (99% level of confidence) reduction in supragingival plaque deposits, as compared to the placebo dentifrice. The dentifrice containing triclosan and copolymer also provided 50.72% statistically significant (99% level of confidence) reduction in gingivitis, as compared to the placebo dentifrice. When tooth surfaces with the highest degree of plaque formation (i.e. Quigley-Hein score greater than or equal to 3) were examined at 6 weeks, the triclosan/copolymer dentifrice provided a 42.92% statistically significant (99% level of confidence) reduction in supragingival plaque deposits, as compared to the placebo dentifrice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)