Support of Prevention of Gingivitis by Temporary Crown&Bridge Materials

Objectives: THE DENTAL ADVISOR reported in its March issue 2011 the clinical observation that the temporary Crown & Bridge material Protemp™ 4 (3M ESPE) supported improvement of very inflamed gingival tissue. The FDA describe in their Guidance for Industry: Gingivitis (2005) a solid correlation between gingivitis and amount of plaque. Aim of the study was to investigate the plaque growth inhibition property of temporary C&B materials in a microcosm plaque model

Methods: Human saliva was used to grow a microcosm plaque on bovine enamel, Protemp™ 4 (3M ESPE) and Integrity^® (Dentsply) samples (n=6) each. Plaque growth was initiated via a 1:4 mixture of human saliva and MCM-sucrose-culture media for 4 hr/37°C; the media was replenished for the next 22 hr/37°C. Plaque was collected and dried to determine plaque. Biomass was related to the exposed surface area of each specimen.

Results: On the enamel bovine reference samples an average plaque mass of 1.93 ± 0.51 mg/cm² has been found. Substantially less plaque accumulated on Protemp™ 4 (0,92 ± 0.35 mg/cm²) which is statistically significantly different (p<0,05, Two-Sample T-Test) to the plaque mass grown on bovine enamel and on Integrity^® (1,46 ± 0.27 mg/cm²). The plaque accumulation on bovine enamel and Integrity^® was not statistically significantly different (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Protemp™4 shows a statistically significant better plaque resistance than enamel which can be considered as first rationale for the dentist’s clinical observation that Protemp™4 seems to contribute to prevent gingivitis. Further investigations have been initiated to leverage understanding of the gingivitis preventive effect of temporary C&B materials.