Clinical studies on MFP/calcium containing abrasive

Monofluorophosphate (MFP) is unique in that its calcium salt is relatively soluble. Because of this property MFP can be combined with a dicalcium dihydrate (dical) abrasive in a dentifrice formulation without loss of efficacy. It has been reported that fluoride uptake by artificial lesions in enamel and dentine is significantly greater from an MFP formulation containing dical than from an equivalent calcium-free formulation. Additionally, it has been shown in an in situ remineralisation study that brushing with MFP dical significantly increases the levels of fluoride and calcium in plaque, and produces a concomitant increase in remineralisation of artificial caries lesions, as compared to brushing with MFP silica. All of the foregoing suggests that dical may enhance the benefit of MFP in a dentifrice formulation. MFP dentifrices have been tested more exhaustively in human clinical trials than any other form of fluoride dentifrice. In some trials the test formulation contained dical while in others a non-calcium abrasive system was employed. Collectively, studies of F/dical formulations have not produced more impressive results than studies of calcium-free MFP agents. However, there has never been a direct comparison of the conventional 0.76 per cent sodium monofluorophosphate dentifrice in a dicalcium phosphate abrasive system with a dentifrice containing a similar level of MFP combined with a non-calcium containing abrasive. In the closest approximation to such a study, an MFP/NaF dentifrice with a dical abrasive was compared to an MFP/NaF dentifrice with a silica abrasive system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)