Purpose: Behavioral research was conducted to ascertain the relevance of an alcohol-free, 0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) therapeutic mouthrinse to contemporary dental practice over a 6-month usage period.
Methods: A randomized, single-blind study was conducted to assess practice-relevant compliance, acceptability and side effects associated with two mouthrinses. The target population was healthy adult mouthrinse users with a history of routine dental prophylaxis and maintenance care. Subjects were randomly assigned to a therapeutic mouthrinse with 0.07% CPC (Crest Pro-Health Rinse) or a cosmetic rinse control (Scope). Other oral hygiene was not standardized. Subjects completed a questionnaire and were examined by dental hygienists at baseline, and again after 3 and 6 months rinsing. At study completion, a dental prophylaxis was administered.
Results: Compliance was generally favorable, with 273 subjects (89%) completing the 6-month rinsing study. Rinsing time generally stayed the same or increased relative to baseline. Groups differed among the subset who historically used an essential oils rinse (N=137), where those assigned to the alcohol-free therapeutic rinse exhibited significantly (P= 0.02) longer rinsing times compared to subjects using the alcohol-containing cosmetic rinse. Subject evaluations were generally positive with respect to both rinses. Side effects were minimal, with no between-group differences in hygienist-rated calculus or stain accumulation, or prophylaxis time.
Clinical significance: In a 6-month study, a high bioavailable 0.07% CPC therapeutic mouthrinse showed generally high compliance and favorable user acceptability, with similar side effects to those seen with a cosmetic mouthrinse. These findings suggest that the 0.07% CPC mouthrinse may be readily incorporated within the contemporary recall dental practice.