Response to a plaque control regimen on different levels of gingival inflammation

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral hygiene regimen in subjects presenting with substantially different severity of plaque-associated gingivitis.

The study population was selected from among a large pool of subjects undergoing an experimental gingivitis trial. At completion of the 21-day plaque accumulation period, 2 sub-groups of subjects were identified on the basis of uppermost and lowest quartile for Gingival Index (GI), respectively classified as highly-inflamed (Hinf; n=17; GI: 1.07+/-0.10) and slightly-inflamed (Sinf; n=22; GI: 0.28+/-0.09) groups. An oral hygiene regimen, based on use of amine fluoride/stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthrinse, was then prescribed for 21 days.

Plaque Index (PI), GI, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and Angulated Bleeding Index (AngBI) significantly decreased after treatment in both HInf and SInf groups (p<0.001). However, PI (0.77+/-0.41 vs 0.43+/-0.33, p<0.01), GI (0.23+/-0.30 vs 0.08+/-0.11, p<0.05), GCF (15.23 +/-7.11 vs 7.66+/-2.93, p<0.0000) remained significantly greater in the Hinf group compared to the Sinf group.

These results suggest that 1) an oral hygiene regimen based on amine/stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthrinse is effective in reducing plaque-associated gingivitis, regardless of pre-existing severity of gingival inflammation; 2) the level of improvement in gingival status, however, is dependent on the pre-existing severity of the inflammatory condition.