This study investigated the effect of a surface active compound, delmopinol, on plaque formation and established plaque in vitro, on the bacterial acid production from glucose and on the total viable bacterial counts in saliva. The antimicrobial effect was compared with that of chlorhexidine. The plaque-inhibiting effect was evaluated in an artificial mouth system, and the effect on bacterial acid production was registered as a decrease of pH in bacterial suspensions with various concentrations of delmopinol. It was shown that delmopinol is able to prevent plaque formation, to dissolve established plaque in vitro, and that it has 5-125 times higher minimum inhibitory concentrations than chlorhexidine. Saliva samples collected 1 min after rinsing with delmopinol showed on differences in the total number of bacteria in saliva as compared with controls. It was also shown that the bacterial acid production from glucose was reduced successively with increasing concentrations of delmopinol. The results indicate that delmopinol might be as effective as chlorhexidine against plaque formation and that delmopinol is capable of penetrating established plaque, thus promoting a more effective mechanical cleansing.

Simonsson T, Ronstrom A, Rundegren J, Birkhed D: Rate of plaque formation -some clinical and biochemical characteristics of "heavy" and "light" plaque formers, Scand J Dent Res 1987; 95: 97-103, Abstract -The purpose of the present study was to give a clinical and biochemical characterization of two groups of individuals witb different rates of plaque formation. From 133 individuals, 9 "heavy" and 10 "light" plaque formers were selected. The mean plaque index after 3 days of plaque accumnlation, on buccal surfaces of premolars and first molars, was 2,6 for the "heavy" and 0,6 for tbe "iighl" plaque formers. The foUowing variables were determined: periodontal status, DFS, dietary habits, salivary secredcn rate and buffer effect, S, mutans and lactobacillus counts in saliva, salivar)' content of IgA, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme, sahva-induced aggregation of certain oral streptococci, gel electrophoresis of saliva, amino acid composition of saliva and tbe acquired pellicle and retention depth of the dentogingival area. Comparing the two groups of plaque formers, statistically significant diiferences were found for the following three variables: parotid saliva-induced aggregation of a strain of S, sanguis, content of glutamic acid in the acquired pellicle and retention depth of the dentogingival area for maxillary premolars. Large variations for all studied variables were found, both within and between the groups. Several factors may be involved in plaque formation and none of the studied variables alone could explain the large difference in the amount of plaque formed after 3 days between the "heavy" and "light" plaque formers.

– The validity of a simplified diagnostic aid, Oricult‐N, for detection of oral candidoses was compared with smears stained according to the periodic acid‐SchilFs method. Samples were taken from 80 locations in 36 patients with lesions suspected for candidal infection. There was a statistically significant correlation between the two methods (P < 0.001).

Delmopinol is a low molecular weight surface active compound, which has been shown to be effective against dental plaque both in vitro and in vivo, and against gingivitis in vivo. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of delmopinol on salivary pellicles and on the adhesiveness of tooth surfaces, bacterial cell surfaces and pellicle-coated bacterial cell surfaces in order to elucidate its mode of action.The interaction of delmopinol with salivary pellicles showed that the effect was strongly dependent on the surface properties of the material on which the pellicle was formed, ranging from reversible binding of delmopinol to removal of pellicle material. The binding of delmopinol appeared to be reversible upon rinsing in all cases.The results from the contact angle measurements showed that the accessibility of polar units increased after adsorption, suggesting that delmopinol exposes the polar part of the molecule outwards after adsorption, but this effect was short-lived. It is therefore less likely that the main effect of delmopinol is related to alterations in the adhesive properties of tooth surfaces in vivo. It is suggested that delmopinol reduces the cohesion within plaque, and also affects the adhesion of plaque to a tooth surface, thus facilitating mechanical removal.

The adsorption onto silicon oxide surfaces from water and 0.1 M acetate buffer containing 10% parotid saliva at 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C and at pH 6 was monitored in situ using ellipsometry. The silicon oxide surface was used as a model for dental enamel. The adsorption kinetics and the reversibility on rinsing were determined, and the desorbable fraction was found not to change after either 30 or 120 min of adsorption. Addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate after 30 or 120 min of saliva adsorption caused strong desorption. Rinsing 30 min after surfactant addition caused some redeposition if saliva was present, whereas continued desorption occurred in the absence of saliva. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide caused either an increase or a slight decrease in the amount adsorbed when added after 30 min and 120 min, respectively. For both times, rinsing caused desorption, left the same amount adsorbed, and was not affected by the presence or absence of saliva in solution. No major effect from temperature and ionic strength was found.