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Effect of buccal administration of a lactose‐containing nitroglycerin tablet (Suscard) on plaque pH
Author(s) -
Lingström Peter,
Birkhed Dowen
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1994.tb01478.x
Subject(s) - lozenge , medicine , oral hygiene , lactose , dental plaque , dentistry , oral administration , buccal administration , anesthesia , chemistry , archaeology , organic chemistry , history
The aim of this study was to monitor pH in 2‐day‐old dental plaque after administration of a long‐acting, lactose‐containing nitroglycerin tablet (Suscard). The tablet was placed under the lip of the maxilla. This was done both in two older subjects suffering from heart problems and in 10 younger, healthy subjects. In the latter group, a sucrose‐containing lozenge was used as a control. The influence of a 5‐wk period of daily use of Suscard (in the two elderly subjects) and the effect of normal oral hygiene procedures (in the 10 younger subjects) on the pH response was also studied. Plaque pH was measured in situ up to 1 h, at five different approximal sites in the front region of the maxilla by the microtouch method. The Suscard tablet resulted in a fall in plaque pH in both groups when teeth had not been brushed for 2 days. The lowest pH was recorded at the sites close to where the tablet had been placed. The most attenuated pH drop was found in the two older subjects, who showed a mean minimum pH of 5.7, as compared with 6.2 for the younger subjects. No further increase in the pH fall from Suscard was seen after the 5‐wk period in the two patients with heart problems. In the 10 younger healthy subjects, the most pronounced pH decrease was registered after administration of the sucrose‐containing lozenge. The pH drop for Suscard was not significant when normal oral hygiene procedures preceded the test. To conclude, this study showed that a long‐acting, lactose‐containing nitroglycerin tablet may be highly cariogenic. However, if good oral hygiene is maintained, the pH drop in plaque can be reduced to a minimum.