Are adjunctive therapies effective in reducing gingivitis and plaque?

Abstract

Data sources PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus and Cochrane electronic databases were used as the data sources for the systematic review. All randomised control trials that reviewed antiseptics published up to and including 26 February 2019 were included. A manual search of reference lists of the selected studies was conducted, including information from previous systematic reviews conducted by the same authors.

Study selection Two trained and calibrated reviewers screened titles and abstracts that investigated the efficacy of adjuncts to mechanical plaque control, in systematically healthy patients aged 18 years or older with dental plaque biofilm-induced gingivitis, in an intact periodontium (GP) or in patients previously treated for periodontitis with gingival inflammation (PP_GI). Studies with at least one test group and a control group were included, where changes from baseline up to six months in gingival or bleeding indices was the primary outcome.

Data extraction and synthesis Data was extracted by three reviewers and reported outcomes extracted at baseline, six months and the longest to follow-up visit. Meta-analysis was conducted for six-month data on antiseptics investigating gingival indices, bleeding indices and plaque indices. Studies were compared via mean treatment effect, calculated for baseline to six months, and analysed using weighted mean differences (WMD) or standardised mean differences (SMD). Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I squared statistic. Study-specific estimates were pooled using the random-effect model and meta-regression analysis performed. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the contribution of each study to the evidence and Begg's rank correlation test utilised to assess publication bias.

Results Following screening of 1,101 articles, 70 were included in quantitative synthesis. Adjuncts yielded statistically significant reductions in gingival index, plaque index and plaque. Meta-regression analysis showed use of mouth rinses resulted in greater reductions in plaque when compared with dentifrices, whereas antiseptic agents were similarly effective in reducing gingivitis in plaque in patients with GP and PP_GI.

Conclusions Based on the present evidence, adjunctive antiseptics in mouth rinses and dentifrices demonstrate statistically significant reductions in gingival, bleeding and plaque indices, when used in adjunct to mechanical plaque control. Clinical significance must be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity among studies included and significant publication bias.