The use of plaque area and plaque index to measure the effect of fluoride and chlorhexidine toothpastes on 24-hour plaque regrowth
The aim of this study was to determine whether toothpastes, known from longer-term trials to have greater plaque-inhibiting properties than placebos, could be shown similarly effective over a 24-hour period and by more conventional plaque-scoring methods. These two crossover studies measure plaque regrowth over 24 hours in 20 subjects in response to single brushing with the chlorhexidine toothpaste compared with its control, and with the fluoride toothpaste compared with water. Eighteen subjects participated in both studies, and using their data for an interstudy comparison, less plaque developed with the chlorhexidine than with the fluoride toothpaste. This permits one to conclude that the 24-hour plaque regrowth study design, using conventional measures of plaque accumulation, could be a useful and rapid method of screening potential plaque inhibitory agents. [S.L.]
Claydon, N., and M. Addy, J Clin Periodont, 22:540,1995