Effectiveness of Organic and Inorganic Fluoridated Dentifrice on Dental Caries Progression Among Institutionalized Geriatrics: A Randomized Intervention

Purpose To assess the effects of two commercially available organic and inorganic fluoridated dentifrices on dental caries progression amongst the institutionalized geriatric population. Materials and methods A total of 80 participants were selected and randomly allocated using the coin toss method into two groups, viz. Group I with subjects receiving organic fluoridated dentifrice and Group II with subjects receiving inorganic fluoridated dentifrice. Allocation concealment was done using the Sequentially-Numbered, Opaque, Sealed Envelopes (SNOSE) method. Participants were blinded using analogous dentifrice tubes. They brushed their teeth with the dentifrices twice daily using the modified Bass technique for a period of six months. Their compliance with the intervention was monitored regularly. The outcome measure was susceptibility to dental caries assessed by a cariogram. A single, trained, and calibrated investigator assessed the cariogram at baseline and after six months. Collected data were compiled and analyzed. Results The mean age was found to be 67.75 ± 4.1 years, 70.05 ±7.4 years among Group I and Group II participants, respectively. The results showed that the efficacy of avoiding new carious lesions was higher (75.85%) in Group I participants as compared to Group II (73.4%) participants, but no significant difference in the mean cariogram sectors was observed. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in the Streptococcus (S.) mutans and Lactobacillus colony-forming unit (CFU) (p<0.05) with a considerable increase in salivary pH in Group I participants. Conclusion There is a marked increase in the possibility of avoiding new carious lesions with a reduction in S. mutans and Lactobacillus CFU and an increase in saliva buffer capacity over six months of use of organic fluoride dentifrices. Thus, organic fluoride dentifrice can be an effective agent for institutionalized geriatrics in the prevention of dental caries and oral diseases.