Martin Giniger’s research while affiliated with Colgate-Palmolive and other places

The authors measured the enamel remineralization of dental interproximal surfaces by a triclosan/copolymer/fluoride liquid dentifrice to test its performance against that of a standard toothpaste. In a randomized, crossover, blinded, in situ protocol, the authors fitted 19 healthy adult subjects with mandibular appliances holding bilateral, interproximal bovine enamel slabs. They measured initial abrasion levels and fluoride content. In a two-phase crossover protocol, they evaluated the percentage of surface mineral recovery, or SMR, and fluoride uptake caused by the experimental dentifrice and a fluoride-containing traditional control toothpaste. Abrasion depths were similar and not different statistically (P > .05). The interproximal blocks exposed to the triclosan-containing liquid dentifrice had a mean fluoride uptake that was nearly 100 parts per million (13.1 percent) greater than that achieved with the American Dental Association-accepted control dentifrice. This finding, while not statistically significant, may indicate enhanced performance of the experimental dentifrice because the initial enamel slab abrasion depths were shown to be quite uniform. Moreover, the blocks exposed to the experimental toothpaste had a 49.8 percent SMR, while the positive control blocks had an SMR of only 36.9 percent. This enhanced remineralization performance was statistically significant (P < .05). This is the first study to show enhanced performance of a triclosan-containing liquid dentifrice in preventing interproximal dental caries. The difference in percentage of SMR was statistically significant and is likely to be clinically relevant. The results of this preliminary study offer evidence supporting clinicians' recommendation of the new liquid dentifrice to patients who are prone to developing interproximal carious lesions.

A randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, parallel-group clinical trial was performed to compare the tooth-whitening benefits of a novel, nontray, "paint-on" liquid gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide (Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel) to those of a commercially available whitening dentifrice. Efficacy was measured by using Vita shade scores obtained at baseline and after 2 and 3 weeks of product use. Eighty subjects were first balanced according to gender, age, and shade scores into two groups. Half were then randomly assigned to either alpha 3-week routine of tooth-brushing (using a nonwhitening dentifrice) and twice-daily 18% carbamide peroxide gel application or a 3-week routine of twice-daily brushing with the commercially available whitening dentifrice. At the completion of the study, the results showed that subjects' teeth in the liquid whitening gel-treated group exhibited a statistically significant (P < .05) 4.12 mean tooth-shade improvement compared to baseline and exhibited a mean score that was 3.7 units higher than the corresponding mean score of the group assigned to use the whitening dentifrice (statistically significant, P < .05). It can therefore be concluded that the combined use of Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel immediately after brushing with a regular toothpaste is clinically superior at whitening teeth than solely using a clinically proven, commercially available whitening dentifrice.

The objective of this examiner-blind clinical study was to compare the extrinsic tooth-stain removal efficacy of a novel, nontray, "paint-on" liquid whitening gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide (Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel) with a commercially available whitening dentifrice. After a baseline examination for extrinsic tooth stain, qualifying adult men and women from Canada were randomized into two treatment groups balanced for age, gender, and level of extrinsic tooth stain. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth twice daily (morning and evening) for 1 minute with their assigned dentifrice (Group 1: nonwhitening dentifrice; Group 2: whitening dentifrice). The subjects in Group 1 also were instructed to use the paint-on whitening gel for 30 minutes twice daily. Examinations for extrinsic tooth stain were repeated after 2 and 3 weeks. Ninety-seven subjects complied with the protocol and completed the entire study. At both the 2- and 3-week examinations, subjects assigned to the liquid whitening gel-treatment group exhibited statistically significant reductions in extrinsic tooth stain (P < .05) with respect to stain area (22.7% reduction at 3 weeks), stain intensity (26.3% reduction at 3 weeks), and overall stain removal (32% reduction at 3 weeks) compared with the commercially available whitening dentifrice group. Thus, the results of the examiner-blind clinical study support the conclusion that Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel provides a significantly greater level of extrinsic tooth-stain removal efficacy than a commercially available whitening dentifrice.

Dentifrices traditionally have been formulated as pastes or gels. However, liquid varieties recently have become available The authors conducted a study to determine whether a fluoridated liquid product with added triclosan and a polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid, or PVM/MA, copolymer delivery system is efficacious for the control of supragingival plaque and gingivitis. The authors conducted a six-month, double-blind, parallel, stratified clinical study in accordance with American Dental Association guidelines for the clinical evaluation of antiplaque/antigingivitis products. Subjects who qualified with a suitable amount of existing plaque and gingivitis were given one of two dentifrices: an "experimental" liquid dentifrice containing 0.3 percent triclosan, 2.0 percent PVM/MA copolymer and 0.243 percent sodium fluoride, or NaF, in a silica base; or a "placebo" dentifrice containing 0.243 percent NaF in a silica base. The authors collected subjects' plaque and gingival index scores at baseline, three months and six months. The results of the study indicate that the use of the experimental liquid dentifrice provided a significant reduction in existing levels of plaque and gingivitis as compared with the placebo standard dentifrice. At six months, the experimental group demonstrated a 34.9 percent reduction in plaque formation and a 25.7 percent reduction in gingivitis as compared with the placebo group (P < .001). When compared with the placebo, the experimental dentifrice had a significantly better ability to reduce plaque and gingivitis. When compared with results reported in the literature, this new form of dentifrice achieved results comparable in efficacy to those of traditional dentifrice pastes with matching active ingredients. This study confirms that a liquid dentifrice containing a triclosan/copolymer/NaF delivery system is efficacious in its ability to reduce existing plaque and gingivitis.

A 1-week study was conducted to compare the tooth whitening efficacy of two carbamide peroxide-based products (one containing 5% carbamide peroxide and one containing 10% carbamide peroxide). In addition, the perception of transient tooth hypersensitivity associated with the use of these products was subjectively evaluated. Sixty participants took part in a double-blind, randomized, parallel clinical study. Change in tooth color was measured by chroma meter and Vita shade guide at the initiation of the study and after 7 days of product use. Color change (delta E) was calculated using the color-difference equation established by the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage. Data concerning dental hypersensitivity was assessed by subjective panelist questionnaires administered after the day 7 recall examination. Results of the whitening data showed that there was no significant difference between the two products. After 1 week, the mean delta E for the product containing 5% carbamide peroxide was 4.43 +/- 1.89 and the mean delta E for the product containing 10% carbamide peroxide was 4.05 +/- 1.84. However, the subjective data collected on tooth hypersensitivity showed that the product containing 5% carbamide peroxide was associated with less discomfort. Of the group using the 5% carbamide peroxide product, 20% reported transient sensitivity of their teeth after product use for 1 week compared with 53% of the group using the product with 10% carbamide peroxide. Statistical analysis using a 2-tailed t test showed significant differences between the two groups (P < .05). The data suggest that these products are clinically equivalent for tooth whitening; however, the product containing 5% carbamide peroxide was associated with less tooth hypersensitivity after 1 week of application.