Octenidine, a new bispyridine antimicrobial compound, has significant antiplaque activity in animals. The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness of this agent in inhibiting plaque formation in humans. Sixty males (age 22–36 years) were randomly assigned 4 formulations which included 1) 0.1% octenidine in vehicle, 2) 0.1% octenidine in aqueous solution, 3) 0.05% octenidine in vehicle, and 4) vehicle only. After establishment of minimal levels of plaque and gingivitis, each subject rinsed twice daily under supervision with his assigned test agent. Over the next seven days, the subjects were not permitted any other means of tooth cleaning. Plaque accumulation was measured daily and gingival fluid and stain levels determined on days 0 and 7. Analysis of the data showed that both formulations of 0.1% octenidine almost completely inhibited plaque formation over the 7 day period. The vehicle had no effect on the agent's activity. The 0.05% concentration allowed some plaque accumulation, but all octenidine groups had significantly less plaque than the control group. Gingival fluid flow was significantly lower in all octenidine groups than in the control group. Tooth stain increased in all groups using the agent but remained unchanged in the group using the vehicle alone. Results of this short term clinical trial suggest that octenidine may be a useful topical antiplaque agent.

The purpose of the present study was to assess periodontal destruction and related etiological factors in three young adult male populations in the U.S.A., Norway, and Sri Lanka. The clinical examination included the Plaque Index (Silness & Loe 1964), Retention Index for calculus, defective fillings, and gingival caries (Loe 1967), Gingival Index (Loe & Silness 1963), and Loss of Attachment (Ramfjord 1959).Plaque accumulation, calculus deposition, and gingival inflammation were higher in interproximal than buccal areas. Plaque and Gingival Index scores remained constant over the entire age range in each population. The filling experience was high in Norway compared to the U.S.A. and Sri Lankan populations where few defective fillings were found. Caries related to the gingival margin were rare in all three populations. Loss of attachment increased with age and was greater on buccal surfaces than mesial surfaces. The distribution of attachment loss was similar in the three populations, and the greatest attachment loss involved maxillary first molars, maxillary and mandibular first premolars, and mandibular incisors. Rates of attachment loss in these young populations were low, averaging less than 0.06 mm per year.