Anticalculus efficacy of a new dentifrice

Objective: The Volpe and Manhold Index (VMI) was used to evaluate the anticalculus efficacy of the dentifrice Fluor Kin antisarro, used on adults twice a day for 2 minutes over 3 months, in comparison with the dentifrice Lácer. Method and Materials: A clinical study in which 48 adults took part was designed. The presence of calculus was determined at baseline (VMI), a tartrectomy was performed, and the patients were instructed to brush their teeth twice a day for 2 minutes, using a medium-bristled toothbrush with a commercial dentifrice containing 0.2% aldioxa and 1.9% sodium monofluorophosphate. Three months later, VMI was determined again. After 2 weeks, a new tartrectomy was performed on the same patients, and the subjects were instructed to brush their teeth as before, this time with the study dentifrice based on 0.32% sodium fluoride, 4.1% tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, 2.0% PVM/MA (methylvinylether/maleic acid) copolymer (Gantrez S), 1.0% provitamin B5, and 0.2% vitamin B3. After an additional 3 months, dental calculus was determined again. Results: The study dentifrice showed a significant reduction in VMI in relation to the initial situation (P = .009). There were also significant differences in VMI values between the 2 dentifrices (P = .010). VMI differences were not significant for either dentifrice when analyzed by gender, tobacco use, and toothbrushing frequency before starting the study. Conclusions: Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes with Fluor Kin antisarro effectively reduces supragingival calculus. Keywords: anticalculus dentifrice, dental calculus, PVM/MA copolymer