| |
The purpose of this study was to determine if QLF could detect, and quantify, disclosed dental plaque within a re-growth clinical trial. An experimental, detergent-free paste was used. A total of 10 subjects took part in a double-blind, single-centre, crossover study in which slurry rinses were the only form of plaque control over a 4-day period. Subjects began the trial with a 7-day washout cycle using a standard paste and brush. Following this, on the morning of day 1, subjects were given a professional prophylaxis and a single supervised rinse was taken (randomly assigned either control or experimental). Subsequently the subjects used 2! daily rinses in the absence of all other plaque control methods. Subjects returned to the clinic on the afternoon of day 5 when plaque was disclosed and assessed by plaque index (Quigley-Hein) and QLF images were taken of the 12 anterior teeth. A further 7-day washout was carried out and the rinse period repeated to ensure that each subject had used both experimental and control slurries. 10 subjects completed the trial. Whole mouth average plaque index was calculated for each of the subjects. The test product showed a significant inhibition of plaque re-growth compared with a fluoride-matched control (p ! 0.0001). QLF images were analysed using a new technique to determine the percentage plaque index (PPI) for each tooth. The PPI data showed a similar significant difference to the plaque index data, with the experimental paste significantly inhibiting plaque compared with the control (p ! 0.0001). This study has shown that QLF can accurately detect disclosed plaque. The increased contrast between tooth, gingivae and plaque afforded by QLF potentially offers a more objective planimetric plaque measuring system. fluorescence found in plaque is related to the actual area covered with plaque. These findings could be explained by red fluorescence being associated with specific bacteria in mature plaque. |