Effect of a toothpaste containing triclosan on dental plaque, gingivitis, and bleeding on probing--an investigation in periodontitis patients over 28 weeks.

The aim of this double-blind, 28-week study was to evaluate the plaque-inhibitory and antigingivitis efficacy of a fluoride toothpaste containing 0.3% triclosan and essential oil (Dental Kosmetik, Dresden, Germany) in comparison with a control toothpaste. One hundred twenty subjects previously treated for chronic periodontitis were included in the study. At baseline, 8, 18, and 28 weeks, plaque accumulation (PlI) and gingival status (GI) were assessed. Probing pocket depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured at baseline and week 28 using a Florida probe. No professional hygiene was delivered during the study period. Mean plaque scores decreased between baseline and week 8 in both groups. At the end of the study, a significant increase of mean PlI compared to baseline could be observed in the test and in the control groups. Comparing the two groups, the PlI in the triclosan group was significantly lower than in the control group. Mean gingival scores decreased significantly during the first 8-week period in both groups. This reduction was followed by an increase of GI in the control, while the GI in the test group reached a significantly lower value than in controls after 28 weeks. Furthermore, at week 28, in both groups the PD were decreased as compared to the pre-study data. It is concluded that the triclosan/essential oil additive in a fluoride-containing dentifrice exhibited distinctive antigingivitis as well as plaque-inhibitory effects during a 28-week maintenance period in periodontitis patients.