Clinical efficacy of a triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse

A five-day, double-blind parallel clinical study was conducted to determine the effect on plaque removal of a pre-brush rinse containing 0.03 triclosan (Irgacare MP, Ciba-Geigy Corp.) and 0.125% of a copolymer of methoxyethylene and maleic acid (Gantrez, GAF Corp.), as compared to a matching placebo pre-brush rinse. One hundred eleven subjects were stratified into two balanced groups according to baseline Quigley-Hein Plaque Index scores. Each group was randomly assigned to use either the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse or the matching placebo pre-brush rinse. In order to determine plaque removal efficacy of the pre-brush rinses, subjects rinsed their mouths twice daily (mornings and evenings) for one minute with 15 ml of their assigned pre-brush rinse. Immediately after rinsing, subjects brushed their teeth for 30 seconds with a commercially available dentifrice containing 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate and a soft-bristled toothbrush. The morning rinsing/brushing procedure was done under supervision at the clinical facility. The evening rinsing/brushing procedure was done at home. After five days' use of their assigned pre-brush rinse and toothbrushing, subjects were evaluated by the dental examiner for residual plaque using the modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index scoring procedure. When mean five-day Quigley-Hein Plaque Index scores were compared for both groups, the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse removed 22.54% more plaque from all surfaces of the teeth than the matching placebo pre-brush rinse. When mean Quigley-Hein Plaque Index decrements (the difference between baseline and five-day Quigley-Hein Plaque Index scores) were compared for both groups, the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse removed more than twice as much plaque from all surfaces of the teeth than the matching placebo pre-brush rinse (33.99% efficacy versus 15.19% efficacy). When mean five-day Plaque Severity Index scores were compared for both groups, the triclosan/copolymer pre-brush rinse removed 46.15% more plaque from the "more difficult to brush" surfaces of the teeth than the matching placebo pre-brush rinse. rinse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)