Reduction of Bleeding on Probing by Oral Care Products, Chapek et al, Compendium, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1995, 188-196

Eleven patients in a private practice setting presented themselves with 239 bleeding sites and probe scores of >= 4mm. At recall visits, no change in treatment was provided other than the addition or discontinuance of CloSYSII Toothpaste and CloSYSII Oral Rinse. Patients were asked to use these products twice daily beginning with the second prophylaxis visit.

Bleeding on probing was scored at baseline and at each of the subsequent visits. After a mean of 7 months, disease increased between baseline and the second recall prophylaxis wherein the number(s) of bleeding sites increased from 239 to 256. At the second visit, CloSYSII Toothpaste and CloSYSII Oral Rinse were dispensed to the patients. After a mean of 6.9 months, the patients returned for a third recall visit. Of the 256 bleeding sites, 72 remained, a reduction of 72% (p<=0.01) (figure 6)Three of these patients, having 20 bleeding sites remaining elected to discontinue the use of the products after the third recall. At the fourth recall during which the products had not been used, there was an increase of 15% or 54 bleeding sites (p<0.01). The patients were asked again to resume the use of the products. Returning for the fifth recall, after 3.5 months mean, the 54 bleeding sites were reduced to 31, or a mean decrease of 44% (p<=0.01) (figure 7).

Conclusion: Bleeding can occur only with loss of integrity and continuity between epithelial cells. Penetration of bacterial antigens will not occur with an intact epithelial barrier. VSC have been associated with increased permeability of the epithelial barrier. The reduction of bleeding on probing with the use of CloSYSII Toothpaste (formerly Retardent) and CloSYSII Oral Rinse (formerly Retardex) when used twice daily between recall visits suggests that these patients had returned to a more healthy periodontal state.