Advances in Dental Research, Vol 9, 290-299, Copyright © 1995 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
The application of in situ models for evaluation of new fluoride-containing systems
R. V. Faller
The Procter & Gamble Company Health Care Research Center, Mason, Ohio 45040-8006, USA.
Many in situ models have assessed the anticaries potential of
fluoride-containing systems (Stookey et al., 1985; Mellberg et al., 1986,
1992a,b; Corpron et al., 1986; Featherstone and Zero, 1992; Ogaard and
Rolla, 1992; Stephen et al., 1992). Several models have reportedly been
validated according to guidelines proposed by Proskin et all. (1992). The
proposed guidelines cover only dentifrices containing sodium fluoride (NaF)
or sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP) as active ingredients. These compounds
are the most widely used sources of fluoride in dentifrices, and
dose-response clinical standards are available for both. Other fluoride
compounds, such as amine fluoride (AmF) and stannous fluoride (SnF2), have
also been proven effective in reducing caries (Muehler et al., 1957, 1958;
Marthaler, 1968; Lu et al., 1980; Cahen et al., 1982). Profile standards
for these fluorides were not included in the proposed guidelines, primarily
due to the lack of clinical data necessary to establish a dose response for
these ingredients. Criteria for demonstrating the efficacy of these
ingredients, along with methods to assess new fluoride compounds, need to
be established. In situ models are used to evaluate the anticaries
potential of new compounds added to mouthrinses, gums, slow-release
devices, etc. (Creanor et al., 1992; Manning and Edgar, 1992; Lamb et al.,
1993; Toumba and Curzon, 1993; Wang et al., 1993). Ingredients are often
added to dentifrices previously proven effective against caries in order to
provide additional benefits of gum health, tartar control, cleaning, etc.
Proposals are made regarding the in situ testing of new dentifrices
containing clinically proven fluoride compounds other than NaF and SMFP, as
well as alternative delivery systems, in order to assist in their
evaluation.
