According to an article from DentistryIQ, research presented at the 2010 International Association for Dental Research meeting in Barcelona, Spain, supports the use of GC America’s MI Paste Plus for the prevention of decalcification in orthodontic patients.

The 4-week study, conducted by Chung How Kau, DDS, MScD, MBA, PhD, M Orth, FDS, FFD(Ortho), FAMS(Ortho), and associates at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston Department of Orthodontics, compared the use of MI Paste Plus and a fluoride-containing dentifrice from Tom’s of Maine.

Orthodontic patients were randomly assigned to the test or control group, and asked to use their assigned product every night for 3 to 5 minutes in a tray after brushing. Decalcification was assessed, recorded, and compared at baseline for both groups, and at the end of consecutive 4-week periods for 3 months.

The Enamel Decalcification Index was used to determine the number of orthodontic decalcifications on each tooth surface adjacent to the orthodontic brackets (distally, mesially, incisally, and gingivally).

The MI Paste Plus group experienced significantly less decalcification than the group using the control dentifrice, as well as a steady decrease of decalcification during the study.

MI Paste Plus orthodontic patients experienced a 53.5% reduction in decalcification, with the greatest decrease on the distal surfaces. These patients had reduced decalcification on all tooth surface areas at the end of each 4-week period.

By contrast, the patients treated with the control dentifrice experienced a 91.1% increase in decalcification with the greatest increase on the distal and gingival surfaces. An increase in decalcification was found at the end of each 4-week period for all tooth surface areas.

MI Paste Plus contains 900 ppm fluoride as well as casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, which helps to maintain a high concentration gradient of calcium and phosphate ions at the tooth surface, thereby helping to prevent demineralization and enhance remineralization.

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