ANNOTATIONS Resolution of Gingivitis in Dogs Following Topical Applications of 0.4% Stannous Fluoride and Toothbrushing JANET HOCK and NORMAN TINANOFF Univ. of Conn. Healthl Center, School of Dental Medicine, Depts. of Periodontics and Pedodontics, Farmington, Ct. 06032 J Dent Res 58(6):1652-1653, June 1979 Studies by Konig (Helv. Odont. Acta 3:39, 1959), Tinanoff etal. (Caries Res. 10:4 15, 1976), and Svantun et al. (Acta Odont. Scand. 35:247, 1977) have demonstrated that dilute concentrations of stannous fluoride (SnF2) will reduce plaque formation on teeth. However, the effect of this plaque inhibition on gingivitis has not been reported. The objective of this preliminary study was to test the efficacy of 0.4% stannous fluoride rinse in reducing plaque-associated gingivitis around the teeth of 6 adult beagle dogs with existing gingivitis (range of mean G.I.=1.33-1.89; range of mean Pl..= 1.28-1.94). Dogs were allowed access to dry Purina Dog Chow 2 hours daily and given water ad libitum. After an initial clinical evaluation (day 0), the teeth of each dog were scaled. From day 0 to day 7, all teeth were brushed once daily and scaled wherever necessary. From day 7 to day 25, teeth were brushed daily and rinsed 4 times a week with approximately 20 ml of 0.4% SnF2 in an oral irrigation device (Broxojet 3007) at the recommended setting of 3-4. A previous study using chlorhexidine rinses (Hock, J. Periodontal Res. 13:68, 1978) had shown the oral irrigator to be an effective delivery system for mouthrinses in dogs. The 0.4% SnF2 was obtained by diluting 1.64% Sn F2 mouthwash concentrate (Oral Disease Research Lab., V.A. Hospital, Houston, Texas) with water. The Gingival Index (G.I.; Loe and Silness, Acta Odont. Scand. 21:533, 1963) and Plaque Index (PI.I., Silness and Loe, Acta Odont. Scand.
22:121, 1964) were assessed for the mesial, buccal and distal aspects of 4 carnassial teeth and 14 premolar teeth in each dog, and the highest score for each tooth was recorded. Indices were taken at weekly intervals, prior to the daily oral prophylaxis, and were assessed on dogs sedated with a mix of acepromazine (0.5 mg./kg. body weight) and ketamine (15 mg./kg. body weight). Mean scores and the frequency of scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 were calculated and are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Two-way ANOVA was performed using the mean G.I. and Pl.I. scores for 18 teeth/dog. The greatest decrease in individual PI.I. scores was observed within 48 hours following the brushing and SnF2 rinse regimen. The greatest reduction in G.I. scores occurred 7-14 days later. Statistically significant differences (p
22:121, 1964) were assessed for the mesial, buccal and distal aspects of 4 carnassial teeth and 14 premolar teeth in each dog, and the highest score for each tooth was recorded. Indices were taken at weekly intervals, prior to the daily oral prophylaxis, and were assessed on dogs sedated with a mix of acepromazine (0.5 mg./kg. body weight) and ketamine (15 mg./kg. body weight). Mean scores and the frequency of scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 were calculated and are presented in Tables 1 and 2. Two-way ANOVA was performed using the mean G.I. and Pl.I. scores for 18 teeth/dog. The greatest decrease in individual PI.I. scores was observed within 48 hours following the brushing and SnF2 rinse regimen. The greatest reduction in G.I. scores occurred 7-14 days later. Statistically significant differences (p
