Effect of stannous fluoride and zinc phosphate dentifrice on dental plaque and gingivitis: A randomized clinical trial with 6-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare a stabilized stannous fluoride (SnF) dentifrice with zinc phosphate (Colgate Total) with SnF with zinc lactate and control fluoride dentifrices for gingivitis and plaque control over a 6-month period.

METHODS: A total of 135 adult participants were enrolled in this study. After randomization and blinding of examiners and patients, enrolled participants were provided instructions for use of assigned dentifrice. At 3 visits (0, 3, and 6 months), various gingival and plaque indexes were collected to determine the clinical efficacy of a stabilized SnF dentifrice. These results were compared with a SnF with zinc lactate dentifrice and with a control fluoride dentifrice.

RESULTS: A total of 135 participants completed the study. All groups reported statistically significant reductions in gingival inflammation and improvement in plaque control at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Both SnF dentifrices showed statistically significant reductions in all indexes compared with the control dentifrice (P < .001). However, the test dentifrice showed higher but nonsignificant improvements in plaque and gingival indexes compared with the other SnF dentifrice.

CONCLUSIONS: This study reports similar efficacy of a test dentifrice to a commercial SnF-containing dentifrice for plaque control and reduction in gingival inflammation and provides supporting evidence that the test dentifrice maintains its clinical efficacy with change of formulation.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This newly formulated SnF stabilized with zinc phosphate dentifrice may be of benefit to patients in controlling plaque biofilm and gingivitis.