Gingivitis, plaque accumulation and plaque composition under long-term use of Meridol

The effectiveness of amine fluoride and stannous fluoride in the prophylaxis of caries and gingivitis is well‐known from the literature. The aim of this study was to assess whether these agents could be recommended for long‐term use. Under conditions of a clinical double‐blind study, the influence of an amine/stannous fluoride rinse on gingivitis, plaque accumulation and the composition of the supragingival plaque was tested over a period of 7 months. 102 persons with signs of chronic gingivitis participated in the study. Gingival indices (GI, SBI) and plaque indices (PlI, API) were recorded at baseline, after 3.5 and 7 months. The composition of the supragingival plaque was evaluated by dark‐field microscopy. During the 7 months, the GI decreased in the test group from 1.36 to 0.95, and the SBI from 52.0% to 29.3%. The PlI fell from 1.17 to 0.68, and the API from 61.3% to 50.6% (p