A prospective, randomized clinical study on the effects of an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride toothpaste/mouthrinse on plaque, gingivitis and initial caries lesion development in orthodontic patients

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of combined use of a toothpaste/mouthrinse containing amine fluoride/stannous fluoride (AmF/SnF2; meridol) on the development of white spot lesions, plaque, and gingivitis on maxillary anterior teeth in orthodontic patients. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study with 115 orthodontic patients (42 males and 73 females, average age 14.4 years, drop outs 18) was designed. Group A (50) brushed twice daily with an AmF/SnF2 toothpaste (1400 ppm F) and rinsed every evening with an AmF/SnF2 solution (250 ppm F). Group B (47) brushed twice daily with a sodium fluoride (NaF) toothpaste (1400 ppm F) and rinsed every evening with a NaF solution (250 ppm F). Visible plaque index (VPI), gingival bleeding index (GBI) and white spot lesion index (WSL) were recorded on the six maxillary anterior teeth at bonding and after debonding, and evaluated with t tests. In group A no significant differences between bonding and debonding were recorded for WSL (1.02 +/- 0.08 versus 1.05 +/- 0.13, P = 0.14), VPI (0.10 +/- 0.21 versus 0.12 +/- 0.21, P = 0.66) or GBI (0.13 +/- 0.21 versus 0.16 +/- 0.22, P = 0.47), whereas statistically significant differences were found in group B between bonding and debonding for WSL (1.00 +/- 0.02 versus 1.08 +/- 0.17, P = 0.01), VPI (0.06 +/- 0.13 versus 0.17 +/- 0.25, P = 0.01) and GBI (0.06 +/- 0.12 versus 0.16 +/- 0.21, P = 0.01). The increase in lesions on the upper anterior teeth was 4.3 per cent in group A and 7.2 per cent in group B. It was concluded that the combined use of an AmF/SnF2 toothpaste/mouthrinse had a slightly more inhibitory effect on white spot lesion development, plaque and gingivitis on maxillary anterior teeth during fixed orthodontic treatment compared with NaF.