Effects of a New Combination of Antibiofilm Enzymes, Antiadhesive Agents, and Liquorice Extracts on Plaque Accumulation in Dogs: An Unicenter, Controlled, and Randomized Study.

Dental home care of pets plays a critical role in preventing periodontal disease. Active methods of dental home care such as tooth brushing are recommended along with oral hygiene measures that can help reduce dental plaque. The study evaluated the effectiveness of a new topical oral gel (TOG) in controlling plaque accumulation in dogs. After scaling and polishing, 32 dogs were randomly assigned to either a control group with no further oral hygiene care or the TOG group that received an application of the oral gel once a day for 30 days. All dogs were fed the same diet during the trial. Five parameters were evaluated in 9 target teeth on days 0 and 30: periodontal disease index (PDI), calculus index (CI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), plaque index, and oral health index (OHI). On day 30, comparison between the groups showed no differences for PDI and CI. However, OHI, PDI, and GBI were significantly lower in the TOG group (P < .05). Furthermore, OHI and GBI decreased over time in the TOG group (P < .05) and not in the control group. These results show that once-daily oral applications of TOG, without mechanical action, reduced the accumulation of dental plaque in dogs.