Caries-preventing Effect of a Hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in Adults

Target question is as the following one:

Does the daily use of a fluoride-free, microcrystalline hydroxyap-atite (HAP) - containing test toothpaste have a non-inferior caries preventing effect in the permanent dentition compared to the regular use of a fluoride control toothpaste (1450 ppm F-) with proven caries preventive efficacy (Walsh et al. 2019)? This multicenter, non-inferiority clinical trial, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled design, two-armed study evaluates the hypothesis that the home regular use of a toothpaste containing microcrystalline hydroxylapatite (HAP) (test toothpaste) provides a caries preventive effect in adults aged 18-45 comparable to the caries preventive effect provided by the regular use of a fluoridated tooth paste (1450 ppm -F) (control toothpaste) over observation periods of max. 18 months. Caries development will be assessed according to the clinical criteria of the Decay Missing Filling Surface Index (DMFS).

Caries-preventing effects of hydroxyapatite toothpastes have been shown in vivo \[children and adolescents\] (Schlagenhauf et al. 2019, Paszynska et al. 2021), in situ (Amaechi et al. 2019), and in vitro (Tschoppe et al. 2011). However, to date, the caries-preventing effect of a hydroxyapatite toothpaste in adults (without orthodontic treatment) has not been investigated in a clinical trial compared to fluoride toothpastes.

The aim of this clinical trial is to assess in cohorts of adults whether 2 x daily tooth brushing at home over an observation period of 18 months with a fluoride-free, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAP) - containing test toothpaste has a non-inferior caries preventing effect in the permanent dentition compared to the regular use of a fluoride control toothpaste (1450 ppm F-) with proven caries preventive efficacy (Walsh et al. 2019). The study is designed as a multicentre, two armed, non-inferiority trial and will be performed by 2 study centres in Poland. Caries development will be assessed by the Decay Missing Filling Surface Index (DMFS).

There are planned 4 visits for all subjects included to the project. Description of the 4 visits is presented below.

Visit 1 (Screening and Baseline): Study day 0, informed consent, screening, collection of baseline data, and study inclusion Subjects potentially suitable for the study will be informed by the investigator about the nature, sig-nificance, and scope of the clinical trial according to the requirements described in the written subject information.

Before study inclusion, the willingness of the subjects to properly follow the study protocol during the complete treatment period of 546 days must be assessed. Only when subjects have given their written informed consent, he/she will be included as study participant.

Subjects have to meet all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria. Unsuitable subjects with un-treated caries in need of a restoration can become eligible after restorative therapy.

Once informed consent has been given, an initial examination will take place that covers the follow-ing aspects:

* Screening subjects for study eligibility (inclusion and exclusion criteria)
* Demographic data Assessment of the study parameters has to be done on all teeth in the following sequence
* Plaque control record (PCR)
* Professional tooth cleaning
* DMFS
* DIAGNOcam After the analysis of the plaque control record using a plaque-staining solution (see O' Leary T, Drake R, Naylor, 1972), a professional tooth cleaning will be performed. Thereafter, no fluoride gel/varnish etc. will be applied.

Finally, the study subjects receive an electric toothbrush with 3 brushing heads (replacement of the brushing head every 2 months) and the allocated toothpaste (test or control) by a trained study nurse or dentist not involved in clinical study examinations.

Proper use of the assigned electric toothbrush and the issued toothpaste is also instructed by this study nurse or a dentist not involved in the clinical study examinations.

Visit 2: Study day 182 (± 28 days at most), 1st follow-up examination 182 days after baseline visit the following parameters are reassessed:

* Plaque control record (PCR)
* Caries status (DMFS) as described for the baseline visit. Subsequently a study nurse or a dentist not involved in clinical study examinations will hand out 3 new brushing heads for the electric toothbrush and a new supply of the assigned experimental toothpaste (test or control) for the next 182 days.

Furthermore, the study nurse will subsequently check the efficacy of the oral hygiene efforts of the subjects and if PCR will be \> 15%, will train again with the subjects an efficacious brushing tech-nique. Finally, subjects receive a new appointment for visit 3.

Visit 3: Study day 364 (± 28 days at most), 2nd follow-up examination 364 days after baseline visit the following parameters are reassessed:

* Plaque control record (PCR)
* DMFS as described for the baseline visit. Subsequently a study nurse or a dentist not involved in the clinical study examinations will hand out 3 new brushing heads for the electric toothbrush and a new supply of the assigned experimental toothpaste (test or control) for the next 182 days.

Furthermore, the study nurse will subsequently check the efficacy of the oral hygiene efforts of the subjects and if PCR will be \> 15%, will train again with the subjects an efficacious brushing tech-nique. Finally, subjects receive a new appointment for visit 4.

Visit 4: Study day 546 (± 28 days at most), final visit 546 days after baseline visit the following assessments are repeated:

* Plaque control record (PCR)
* Professional tooth cleaning
* DMFS
* DIAGNOcam as described for the baseline visit.

Methods of Determining Efficacy and Safety Methods of Determining Efficacy DMFS-index and PCR-scores will be determined by clinical examinations of the oral cavity. In addi-tion, analysis of mineral density using DIAGNOcam will be conducted according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Assessments of all clinical findings will be performed only by experienced dentists.

DMFS Index Calculation The DMFS Index (Decayed Missed Filled Surfaces) is one of the most common methods in oral epidemiology for assessing dental caries prevalence as well as dental treatment needs among populations.

DMFS Index calculation: There are five surfaces on the posterior teeth: facial, lingual, mesial, distal, and occlusal. There are four surfaces on anterior teeth: facial, lingual, mesial, and distal. The third molars are not counted.

* When a carious lesion or both a carious lesion and a restoration are present, the surface is listed as a D.
* When a tooth has been extracted due to caries, it is listed as an M.
* When a permanent filling is present, or when a filling is defective but not decayed, this surface is counted as an F. Surfaces restored for reasons other than caries are not counted as an F.

The total count is 128 surfaces.

DIAGNOcam (KaVo Dental) DIAGNOcam will be used according to the instructions of the manufacturer. The following classifi-cation will be used (Dent. Med. Probl. 2016, 53, 4, 468-475).

0 = Light transmission unchanged

1. = Shadow visible in enamel
2. = Shadow visible in dentin

Plaque Control Record The Plaque Control Record (O' Leary T, Drake R, Naylor, 1972) is a simple method of recording the presence of the plaque on individual tooth surfaces.

At the study visits a suitable disclosing solution such as Bismarck Brown, Diaplac or similar is painted on tooth surfaces. After the subject has rinsed, the investigator (using an explorer or a tip of a probe) examines each stained surface for soft accumulations at the dentogingival junction.

After all teeth are examined and scored, the index is calculated by dividing the number of plaque containing surfaces by the total number of available surfaces.

Plaque Index Calculation = The number of plaque containing surfaces / The total number of available surfaces

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* provision of written informed consent
* age 18-45 years (both men and women)
* a minimum of 10 healthy molars and premolars (DMFS of these teeth = 0)
* willing to use an electric (powered) toothbrush

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical Reasons

  * untreated caries \[clinical investigation and analysis with DI-AGNOcam\] (→ unsuitable subjects with untreated caries in need of a restoration can become eligible after restorative therapy)
  * severe periodontitis at the baseline-visit (pocket depth on at least one tooth ≥ 5.5 mm)
  * orthodontic treatment
  * known hypersensitivity to one of the ingredients of the tooth-pastes to be tested
  * systemic disorders interfering with salivary function or flow
  * regular medication intake interfering with salivary function or flow
* Other Reasons:

  * Participation in any other clinical study within the past 3 months or ongoing
  * lack of intellectual or physical ability to conduct the study properly
  * Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, dis-qualifies the subject from participating in the study