Stannous fluoride is an effective decay preventive ingredient which has unique antibacterial properties. The biofilm mode of dental plaque growth in the oral cavity offers protection against chemotherapeutic control. The degree of effectiveness provided by topical antimicrobials can be assessed in part by assessments in bacterial vitality changes in treated biofilms enabled by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM). Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess effects of stannous fluoride dentifrice on the average viability of plaque in vivo. Methods: Subjects carried out standard oral hygiene with Crest® Regular dentifrice to establish a treatment and washout baseline and then continued hygiene using Crest® Pro-Health™ (stannous fluoride – hexametaphosphate) dentifrice. After one week applications, the four dentition quadrants were sampled for plaque after refraining from all oral hygiene during 24h. Plaque was dispersed by sonication and immediately analyzed after Baclight fluorescent staining with specialized dispersion and CSLM analysis (van der Mei et al., J Clin Perio 33: 14-20, 2006). Results: During use of standard ‘non-antimicrobial' dentifrice, the percentage of non vital plaque averaged 57 ± 7 %. Use of stannous fluoride increased non vital plaque levels to 71 ±7.1 % (sig. vs. Crest Regular p < 0.05) respectively. Conclusions: Stannous fluoride dentifrice is effective in reducing viability of dental plaque. These results also support the modeling of antimicrobial activity with plaque vitality assessments in this panel design.

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