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Effects on gingivitis of two different 0.4% SnF2 gels
R L Boyd1, P J Leggott, P B Robertson
1Department of Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, University of California at San Francisco 94143-0640, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Daily use of a high-availability stannous fluoride (SnF2) gel significantly improved periodontal health in adolescents with braces. This brush-on gel outperformed toothbrushing alone and a low-availability gel in reducing gingival inflammation and bleeding.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Periodontology
- Orthodontics
Background:
- Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances are at increased risk for periodontal disease.
- Maintaining periodontal health during orthodontic treatment is crucial for long-term oral health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a brush-on 0.4% stannous fluoride (SnF2) gel in maintaining periodontal health in adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances.
- To compare the effectiveness of a high-availability Sn2+ gel versus a low-availability Sn2+ gel when used as an adjunct to toothbrushing.
Main Methods:
- A nine-month randomized controlled trial involving 81 adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- Subjects were assigned to a control group (toothbrushing alone) or two treatment groups (toothbrushing plus SnF2 gel).
- One treatment group used a high-availability Sn2+ gel twice daily; the other used a low-availability Sn2+ gel (once daily for six months, twice daily for three months). Clinical assessments included Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Bleeding Tendency, pocket depth, and coronal staining.
Main Results:
- The group using the high-availability Sn2+ gel twice daily demonstrated significantly lower Gingival Index and Bleeding Tendency scores at all examination points compared to the control group.
- No significant differences in Plaque Index or pocket depth were observed between any groups.
- The low-availability Sn2+ gel group showed no significant improvements over the control group in the assessed periodontal parameters.
Conclusions:
- Daily application of a high-availability Sn2+ gel is effective in improving and maintaining periodontal health in adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.
- The concentration of available Sn2+ ions in the gel is a critical factor in its therapeutic efficacy.
- While generally safe, mild to moderate coronal staining was observed in a small number of subjects using the high-availability gel.