Comparative study of four over-the-counter mouthrinses claiming antiplaque and/or antigingivitis benefits. Comparative clinical trial of two antigingivitis mouthrinses. Comparative antiplaque and antigingivitis efficacy of a multipurpose essential oil-containing mouthrinse and a cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthrinse: A 6-month randomized clinical trial. Comparative antiplaque and antigingivitis effectiveness of a chlorhexidine and an essential oil mouthrinse: 6-month clinical trial. Comparative efficacy of an antiseptic mouthrinse and an antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrice. A six-month clinical trial. Efficacy of two antiplaque and antigingivitis treatments in a group of young mentally retarded patients. Comparison of the short-term antiplaque/antibacterial efficacy of two commercial dentifrices. ANTIPLAQUE AND ANTIGINGIVITIS EFFECT OF LIPPIA SIDOIDES. A DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL STUDY IN HUMANS Increasing antiplaque/antigingivitis efficacy of an essential oil mouthrinse over time: an in vivo study. Antiplaque and antigingivitis effectiveness of a hexetidine mouthwash. Preliminary Clinical Evidence of the Antiplaque, Antigingivitis Efficacy of a Mouthwash Containing 2% Green Tea - A Randomised Clinical Trial. ANTIPLAQUE AND ANTIGINGIVITIS EFFECTS OF A GEL CONTAINING PUNICA GRANATUM LINN EXTRACT. A DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL STUDY IN HUMANS Essential oils in an antiplaque and antigingivitis dentifrice: a 6-month study. Superiority of essential oils versus 0.075% CPC-containing mouthrinse: a two-week randomized clinical trial. Systemic antimicrobials adjunctive to a repeated mechanical and antiseptic therapy for aggressive periodontitis: a 6-month randomized controlled trial. Effect of rinsing time on antiplaque-antigingivitis efficacy of listerine. A randomized survey of the preference of gastroenterologists for a Cochrane review versus a traditional narrative review.
The efficacy of over-the-counter mouthrinses cl aim ing to have antiplaque/antigingivitis benefits was compared using the modified Löe-Silness Gingival Index and the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index . The double-blind in vivo study involved 122 subjects . Each subject was r and omly assigned to one of five groups . Gingival inflammation and plaque were evaluated at 0 , 2 , 4 and 6 weeks of product use . Results revealed that plaque scores for some of the products were statistically significant from the control at the 4-week and 6-week visits . Changes in the gingival scores were negligible PURPOSE To compare the safety and the antiplaque and antigingivitis efficacy of two oral rinses . METHODS A r and omized , double-blind , parallel groups , single-center study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a high bioavailable , alcohol-free 0.07 % cetylpyridinium chloride ( CPC ) rinse ( Crest Pro-Health Rinse ) and a positive control rinse containing essential oils ( EO ) and 21.6 % ethyl alcohol ( Cool Mint Listerine ) .  Seventy-eight healthy adults were enrolled in a modified experimental gingivitis clinical trial . Four weeks before the baseline visit , subjects received a prophylaxis and were instructed to brush twice daily in a manner to approach optimum gingival health . At the end of the 4-week period , subjects were r and omly assigned to treatment and instructed to use 20 ml of their assigned product for 30 seconds after brushing twice daily during a 21-day treatment phase . Plaque removal by brushing was prevented during the treatment phase for one m and ibular quadrant ( experimental gingivitis region ) by means of a specially-manufactured tooth shield . Safety and efficacy measurements were obtained at baseline and at the end-of-treatment using the Modified Gingival Index ( MGI ) , Gingival Bleeding Index ( GBI ) , and Modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index ( MQH ) . At all visits , an oral soft tissue examination was performed for each subject . The efficacy data obtained in the experimental gingivitis region were analyzed with analysis of covariance .  RESULTS Seventy-five subjects completed the study and were included in the data analyses . No statistically significant differences were detected between the two treatment groups for MGI , GBI or MQH measures . Results were similar for shielded interproximal sites . Both treatments were well-tolerated . CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This r and omized , controlled comparative clinical trial demonstrated that rinsing twice daily with the experimental alcohol-free 0.07 % CPC rinse provides antiplaque and antigingivitis efficacy similar to that of the positive control EO rinse , a recognized antiplaque and antigingivitis mouthrinse that contains alcohol OBJECTIVE This 6-month , examiner-blind , single-center , r and omized , parallel group clinical trial compared the antiplaque and antigingivitis effects of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse with zinc chloride and sodium fluoride ( EO ) to a 0.05 % cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthrinse ( CPC ) also with fluoride . METHOD AND MATERIAL S Four hundred and eight gingivitis subjects were monitored for the primary outcomes of modified Gingival Index ( MGI ) and Plaque Index ( PI ) at baseline and 3 and 6 months . Subjects were r and omly assigned to 6-month twice a day unsupervised use of EO , CPC , or negative control rinse in conjunction with normal brushing and flossing . RESULTS EO was always better than CPC at 3 and 6 months considering all parameters . All benefits allowed by EO increased from 3 to 6 months . CPC was better than the negative control at 3 and 6 months with respect to whole mouth plaque , and the proportion of more severe sites ( baseline scores ≥ 3 ) in PI and MGI . At 6 months , CPC did not differ from negative control in relation to whole mouth MGI reduction , proximal MGI reduction , and percentages of sites improved over baseline in PI and MGI . CONCLUSION This new EO mouthrinse provided superior clinical benefits to CPC and demonstrated increasing plaque and gingivitis reductions over 6 months . Our findings support the regular long-term use of the EO mouthrinse and selection over a 0.05 % CPC rinse for better efficacy OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to compare the antiplaque and antigingivitis effectiveness and the side-effect profiles of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse and a chlorhexidine-containing mouthrinse . MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and eight qualifying subjects , aged 20 - 57 years , were r and omized into three groups : essential oil mouthrinse ( ListerineAntiseptic ) ; 0.12 % chlorhexidine mouthrinse ( Peridex ) ; or 5 % hydroalcohol negative control . At baseline , subjects received a complete oral soft tissue examination and scoring of the Loe-Silness gingival index ( GI ) , Quigley-Hein plaque index ( PI ) , Volpe-Manhold calculus index ( CI ) , and Lobene extrinsic tooth stain index ( SI ) . Following a complete dental prophylaxis , subjects started rinsing twice daily with their respective mouthrinse as an adjunct to their usual mechanical oral hygiene procedures . One of the rinses on each weekday was supervised . Subjects were reexamined at 3 and 6 months . The treatment groups were compared with respect to baseline demographic and clinical variables . The primary efficacy variables were GI and PI . Intergroup differences for all clinical variables were tested at 3 and 6 months using appropriate statistical procedures . RESULTS All of the 108 r and omized subjects were evaluable at 3 months , and 107 subjects were evaluable at 6 months . There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups at baseline , with the exception that the control group PI was significantly lower than that of the essential oil group ( p<0.05 ) and the chlorhexidine group ( p<0.001 ) , and the essential oil mouthrinse group had a significantly greater number of subjects than the control group with body region SI scores > or = 1.0 ( p=0.021 ) . At 6 months , the essential oil and chlorhexidine mouthrinses produced statistically significant ( p<0.001 ) GI reductions of 14.0 % and 18.2 % , respectively , and statistically significant ( p<0.001 ) PI reductions of 18.8 % and 21.6 % , respectively , compared with the control and were not statistically significantly different from each other with respect to plaque and gingivitis reduction . The chlorhexidine mouthrinse group had significantly more calculus and extrinsic tooth stain than either the essential oil mouthrinse group or the control group . CONCLUSION This 6-month controlled clinical study demonstrated that the essential oil mouthrinse and the chlorhexidine mouthrinse had comparable antiplaque and antigingivitis activity . Insofar as side effects associated with the chlorhexidine mouthrinse may limit patient compliance , it is suggested that each product can have a distinct role in the management of patients with periodontal diseases BACKGROUND The efficacy of an essential oil-containing antiseptic mouthrinse ( Listerine Antiseptic , Pfizer ) and an antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrice ( Colgate Total , Colgate-Palmolive ) has been demonstrated in numerous double-blind clinical studies . This study was conducted to determine their comparative efficacy . METHODS Three hundred sixteen subjects with mild-to-moderate gingival inflammation and plaque received a dental prophylaxis and began their r and omly assigned brushing and rinsing regimen in an unsupervised setting . Subjects brushed for one minute and rinsed with 20 milliliters for 30 seconds twice daily for six months . The three groups were L ( control toothpaste/Listerine rinse ) , T ( Colgate Total toothpaste/control rinse ) and P ( control toothpaste/control rinse ) . RESULTS Subjects in the L and T groups demonstrated statistically significantly lower ( P < .001 ) Modified Gingival Index , or MGI ; Bleeding Index , or BI ; and Plaque Index , or PI , at both three and six months than subjects in the P group . The magnitude of reduction for the L group was 22.9 percent , 70 percent and 56.1 percent , respectively , and for the T group , 20.8 percent , 58 percent and 22.1 percent , respectively . Subjects in the L group were not different from subjects in the T group in regard to visual signs of gingivitis ( MGI ) , but were more effective ( P < .001 ) than subjects in the T group in experiencing reduced BI and PI . No product-related adverse events were reported . CONCLUSION Although the Listerine Antiseptic and Colgate Total antiplaque/antigingivitis products produced similar , clinical ly significant reductions in gingivitis ( as measured by MGI and BI ) , Listerine , when used in conjunction with a fluoride dentifrice and usual oral hygiene , provided a greater benefit in reducing plaque . CLINICAL IMPLICATION S When considering an antiplaque/antigingivitis product to recommend to patients , clinicians should consider Listerine Antiseptic , in conjunction with usual oral hygiene , if more rigorous plaque control is desired INTRODUCTION Chemical management of dental plaque for controlling oral hygiene becomes necessary in high-risk patients such as the mentally retarded . MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-seven mentally h and icapped patients aged 10 - 19 years and with severe plaque and gingivitis were divided into two treatment groups : Group I ( daily mouthrinse with triclosan-zinc for 8 weeks ) and Group II ( 0.2 % chlorhexidine spray for 2 weeks ) . Both groups were evaluated at the start of the study and after 2 and 8 weeks . RESULTS Significant reductions in plaque were observed in Group I after two weeks , with very significant improvements in both plaque and gingivitis after 8 weeks . In Group II , highly significant reductions in both indices were recorded after two weeks of treatment - significance persisting after 8 weeks . CONCLUSIONS Triclosan-zinc mouthrinse and chlorhexidine spray can be effective adjuncts to tooth brushing for controlling dental plaque and gingivitis in mentally retarded patients OBJECTIVE The objective of these three clinical trials was to compare the impact of two commercial products , Colgate Total and Crest Pro-Health , on the formation of dental plaque over a 24-hour period of time . The studies utilized the Modified Gingival Margin Plaque Index ( MGMPI ) , a vali date d and reliable clinical method for assessing the efficacy of products in reducing plaque build-up . METHODS Colgate Total and Crest Pro-Health were the test products for all three clinical trials . Colgate Great Regular Flavor ( CR ) was used as the universal washout product . Colgate Total , as the only toothpaste approved by the FDA under an NDA for antiplaque , antigingivitis , and anticaries benefits , contains 0.3 % triclosan/2.0 % PVM/MA copolymer for antigingivitis and antiplaque , as well as 0.243 % sodium fluoride ( NaF ) for anticaries . Crest Pro-Health contains 0.454 % stannous fluoride ( SnF2 ) as both a monographed anticaries agent and a monographed antigingivitis agent , along with sodium hexametaphosphate and zinc lactate .  Twenty-five healthy subjects meeting all study criteria were included into each of the double-blind studies . Product assignment was r and omized and a crossover design was implemented . Informed consent was obtained from all subjects prior to commencement of each of the studies . The studies followed published MGMPI procedures , which require subjects to receive a dental scaling/prophylaxis followed by a one-week washout period prior to use of test products . A baseline MGMPI score was calculated following use of the test products in the dental clinic . Subjects refrained from all oral hygiene for 24 hours following use of each test product , and returned to the clinic for a 24-hour MGMPI score . Following a washout period , subjects repeated the procedure with the other test product as per the crossover design . The differences ( delta ) between baseline plaque scores and 24-hour plaque scores were independently calculated for each study , and the delta values were compared for the two test products in each of the studies . RESULTS In all three clinical trials , Colgate Total significantly reduced plaque regrowth over a 24-hour time period ( p < or = 0.05 ) compared to Crest Pro-Health . Existing differences were determined via a paired t-test , which confirmed that Colgate Total was statistically significantly different from Crest Pro-Health . CONCLUSION These in vivo data support the antiplaque benefit of the 0.3 % triclosan/2.0 % PVM/MA copolymer/0.243 % sodium fluoride dentifrice . Additionally , the results support that Colgate Total provides superior efficacy in inhibiting the formation of dental plaque compared to Crest Pro-Health Objectives : The antiplaque and antigingivitis effect of Lippia Sidoides ( LS ) was evaluated in this in vivo investigation . Material and Methods : Twenty-three subjects participated in a cross-over , double-blind clinical study , using 21-day partial-mouth experimental model of gingivitis . A toothshield was constructed for each volunteer , avoiding the brushing of the 4 experimental posterior teeth in the lower left quadrant . The subjects were r and omly assigned initially to use either the placebo gel ( control group ) or the test gel , containing 10 % LS ( test group ) . Results : The clinical results showed statistically significant differences for plaque index ( PLI ) ( p<0.01 ) between days 0 and 21 in both groups , however only the control group showed statistically significant difference ( p<0.01 ) for the bleeding ( IB ) and gingival ( GI ) index within the experimental period of 21 days . On day 21 , the test group presented significantly better results than the control group with regard to the GI ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusions : The test gel containing 10 % LS was effective in the control of gingivitis This r and omized , observer-blind , parallel , controlled study determined the efficacy of an essential oils-containing ( EO ) antiseptic mouthrinse ( in conjunction with toothbrushing ) in reducing and /or controlling existing plaque or gingivitis over 6 months . Toothbrushing , combined with placebo rinsing , served as the control ( C ) . Following ethics board approval ( Biosci Research Canada , Ltd. Institutional Review Board ) , 139 healthy adults with mild to moderate plaque and gingivitis were r and omized into EO or C groups . All subjects received oral/written instructions , monthly monitoring , and assigned unsupervised rinses . Efficacy variables were whole-mouth mean modified gingival index ( MGI ) , Turesky modification of the Quigley Hein plaque index ( PI ) , bleeding index ( BI ) at 6 , 12 , and 24 weeks , and data analysis through an analysis of covariance ( ANCOVA ) model . The EO group provided greater and increasing MGI , PI , and BI reductions than did C group over all examination periods . Compared to the C group , at 6 , 12 , and 24 weeks , MGI reductions for the EO group were 4.7 % , 9.1 % , and 20.4 % , and PI reductions were 7.6 % , 12.6 % , and 26.3 % , respectively . BI scores decreased over time and were significant compared to those for the C group ( P < 0.001 ) . Additionally , the percentages of sites improved versus baseline MGI over time for EO were 14.1 % , 26.4 % , and 43.3 % , respectively . This study demonstrated that an EO-containing mouthrinse can provide an increasing benefit over a period of 6 months with twice daily use . This study also confirmed that an antiseptic EO rinse can provide a clinical ly significant benefit in reducing existing plaque and gingivitis OBJECTIVE To assess the  antiplaque/antigingivitis efficacy of a hexetidine-containing mouthwash . METHODS This examiner-blind , parallel group , controlled clinical study examined the effectiveness of a hexetidine ( 0.1 % ) mouthwash both in inhibiting the development of supragingival plaque and in reducing gingivitis . One hundred and thirty-four adult subjects completed the 2-week experimental gingivitis model study . Following baseline examinations , which included plaque index , modified gingival index and gingival bleeding index , subjects received a full dental prophylaxis . Subjects were r and omly assigned to one of three mouthwashes ( hexetidine 0.1 % , chlorhexidine 0.12 % ( positive control ) or a 5 % hydroalcohol negative control ) and commenced three times daily supervised rinsing as their sole method of oral hygiene . All indices were rescored after 2 weeks . RESULTS Compared to the negative control group , the hexetidine group demonstrated a statistically significant inhibition and reduction of supragingival plaque and gingival inflammation with reductions of 6.3 % , 33.5 % and 56 % for gingivitis , plaque and gingival bleeding , respectively . The results of the chlorhexidine group were used to vali date the study . CONCLUSION The study confirms the efficacy of a hexetidine rinse in reducing supragingival plaque and gingival inflammation PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of a mouthwash containing 2 % green tea as compared to a placebo mouthwash for the control of plaque and gingivitis . MATERIAL S AND METHODS A r and omised controlled clinical trial was conducted on 110 male subjects 18 - 60 years of age . The inclusion criteria were having a minimum of 20 sound natural teeth , a plaque index ( PI ) of at least 1.5 and a gingival index ( GI ) of at least 1.0 . The subjects were r and omised into two parallel groups , test and control . Subjects in the test group and control group were instructed to rinse twice daily for 1 min with 10 ml of test ( mouthwash containing 2 % green tea ) and placebo mouthwash , respectively . After 28 days of using the mouthwash , inter- and intragroup differences for mean plaque index and gingival index scores were analysed . RESULTS There was a significant ( p < 0.05 ) reduction in mean GI and PI scores among the test group from baseline to 28 days , whereas it was not significant in the control group . A statistically significant ( p < 0.05 ) reduction was found in the mean difference in GI scores in the test group ( 0.67 ± 0.22 ) as compared to the control group ( 0.05 ± 0.11 ) and a statistically significant ( p < 0.05 ) reduction was observed in the mean difference in PI scores in the test group ( 1.65 ± 0.68 ) compared to the control group ( 0.45 ± 0.99 ) . CONCLUSION The results showed that the green tea mouthwash was effective in the reduction of plaque and gingivitis scores Objectives : The antiplaque and antigingivitis effects of a gel containing 10 % Punica granatum Linn extract were evaluated using a 21-day partial-mouth experimental model of gingivitis . Methods : 23 volunteers participated in this cross-over , doubleblind study , carried out in 2 phases of 21 days each . For each period of the experiment , an acrylic toothshield was made for each volunteer to carry the test or placebo gel as well as to avoid brushing of the 4 experimental teeth ( posterior teeth in the lower left quadrant ) . The subjects were r and omly assigned to use either the placebo gel ( control group ) or the test gel ( experimental group ) and were instructed to brush the remaining teeth normally 3 times a day . On days 0 and 21 , the visible plaque index ( VPI ) and gingival bleeding index ( GBI ) were recorded . Results : The results did not show statistically significant difference between control and experimental groups for either of the indices ( VPI and GBI ) . Conclusion : The gel containing 10 % Punica granatum Linn extract was not efficient in preventing supragingival dental plaque formation and gingivitis PURPOSE To determine if a dentifrice formulated with the fixed combination of essential oils possessed antiplaque and antigingivitis properties . MATERIAL S AND METHODS This study was a blinded , r and omized , controlled clinical trial . The 6-month study had clinical examinations at baseline , 3 and 6 months . The examinations consisted of three indices ; a plaque index , the Modified Gingival Index and a bleeding index . RESULTS At 6 months , the essential oil-containing dentifrice group had statistically significantly ( P < 0.001 ) lower whole-mouth and interproximal mean plaque index scores exhibiting mean reductions of 18.3 % and 18.1 % relative to the vehicle control . At 6 months , the essential oil-containing dentifrice group had statistically significantly ( P < 0.001 ) lower whole-mouth and interproximal mean gingival index scores compared to the vehicle control with reductions of 16.2 % and 15.5 % , respectively . Finally , for the gingival bleeding index , the essential oil-containing dentifrice group had statistically significantly ( P < 0.001 ) lower whole-mouth and interproximal mean bleeding index scores and reductions of 40.5 % and 46.9 % at 6 months compared to the vehicle control OBJECTIVE The objective of this r and omized , examiner-blind , parallel , controlled clinical study was to compare the antiplaque/antigingivitis efficacy of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse ( EO ) to a new 0.075 % cetylpyridinium chloride mouthrinse ( CPC ) using a two-week experimental gingivitis model with a 5 % hydroalcohol rinse serving as the negative control . METHODS After signing informed consents and completing baseline examinations , 185 subjects were r and omized into three groups . Subjects began supervised/recorded rinsing with 20 ml of their assigned rinse for 30 seconds twice daily for two weeks , with no mechanical oral hygiene permitted . Baseline and two-week assessment s were conducted as follows : Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index ( PI ) , Modified Gingival Index ( MGI ) , and the Gingival Bleeding Index ( BI ) . Analysis of efficacy variables ( i.e. , mean PI , mean MGI , mean BI , and proportion of bleeding sites derived from the BI ) was performed using a one-way analysis of covariance ( ANCOVA ) . RESULTS Among the 182 subjects who completed the study , the EO rinse showed statistically significant reductions compared to the negative control within the range previously reported in this model ; PI = 36.5 % ( p < 0.001 ) and MGI = 17.5 % ( p < 0.001 ) . A 43.2 % reduction in proportion of bleeding sites ( p < 0.001 ) was demonstrated . Mean PI , MGI , and proportion of bleeding sites at two weeks were statistically significantly lower for the EO rinse compared to the CPC rinse ( p < 0.001 ) , showing 27.7 % , 11.9 % , and 30.0 % reductions , respectively . CONCLUSION An EO rinse provided superior antigingivitis/antiplaque efficacy compared to a 0.075 % CPC rinse in this short-term clinical trial , and demonstrated efficacy within the range shown in previous studies using this model BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to compare the additional benefit of systemic antimicrobials versus placebos to a repeated mechanical instrumentation combined with comprehensive local chemical plaque control for the periodontal treatment of generalized aggressive periodontitis ( GAgP ) . METHODS This was a 6-month r and omized , double-masked , placebo-controlled clinical trial . All GAgP patients received full-mouth disinfection followed by staged scaling and root planing without ( placebo group ; n = 17 ) or with  ( test group ; n = 18 )  systemic antimicrobials ( 500 mg amoxicillin [ AMX ] + 250 mg metronidazole [ MET ] ; three times a day for 10 days ) . Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months post-therapy . Significant differences between groups at baseline were sought by using the Mann-Whitney U test , whereas comparisons over time were examined by using a general linear model repeated measures procedure . RESULTS Both groups demonstrated similar improvements in most parameters over time . The test group presented a greater mean probing depth ( PD ) reduction and clinical attachment level ( CAL ) gain at sites with initially moderate PD at 6 months ( P < 0.03 ) . No differences were seen between groups regarding mean reductions and mean gains , respectively , for PD and CAL initially ≥7 mm . The test group presented a higher percentage of sites that improved ≥2 mm and ended up with PD ≤4 mm or a lower percentage of sites that worsened ≥2 mm and remained with PD > 4 mm at 3 months ( P < 0.01 ) . No differences were noticed between groups for these parameters at 6 months . CONCLUSION AMX + MET brought additional clinical effects to the repeated mechanical and antiseptic treatment of GAgP in a very short time ( 3 months ) , which tended to fade away over time ( 6 months ) This double-blind , controlled clinical study compared the effectiveness of 30- and 60-s listerine rinses in both inhibiting the development of , and reducing existing , supragingival plaque and gingivitis , using an experimental gingivitis model . 94 subjects completed this study . For each subject , a modified gingival index , modified Quigley-Hein plaque index and Eastman interdental bleeding index were recorded at baseline and at 2 weeks . Following the baseline examinations , subjects received half-mouth prophylaxes , and began 2 x daily supervised rinsing either with listerine for 30 or 60 s or with a control mouthrinse for 30 s as their sole oral hygiene measure . Statistical analysis ( ANCOVA ) showed that both the 30- and 60-s listerine rinses were significantly ( p < 0.01 ) more effective than the control in inhibiting and reducing plaque , gingivitis and gingival bleeding . Although 60-s rinses with listerine were significantly more effective ( p < 0.01 ) than 30-s rinses in controlling plaque , the 2 rinse duration s were similarly effective in controlling interdental bleeding and gingivitis . This study confirms the recommendation of 2x daily rinsing with listerine for 30 s as an effective regimen for gingivitis control BACKGROUND Clinicians often rely on review material rather than analysis of primary research to guide therapy . Systematic review s use methods to insure thoroughness and to minimize bias , but many clinicians are not familiar with systematic review s and continue to rely on narrative review s. OBJECTIVES To determine whether a traditional narrative review or a systematic review is perceived to be more useful . METHODS A clinical scenario ( patient with chronic Crohn 's disease considered for azathioprine therapy )  was circulated to gastroenterologists , along with a narrative review of therapy ( including azathioprine ) for inflammatory bowel disease written by an acknowledged expert , or with a systematic Cochrane review of the use of azathioprine for this disease . Whether knowledge of authors hip and journal source influences the perception of usefulness of a narrative review was investigated . RESULTS The Cochrane review was rated significantly more highly than the narrative review on a 100 mm visual analogue scale ( 21.3 mm ; 95 % CI 14.5 to 28 mm ) . The proportion of respondents who considered the review to be a useful guide was also higher in the group that received the Cochrane review ( 91 % ) than in the group that received the narrative review , with author and journal concealed ( 62 % ) or identified ( 70 % ) ( P<0.001 for both comparisons ) . Ratings from the two groups that received the narrative review were not significantly different . CONCLUSIONS The focused systematic review was perceived to be more useful than a traditional broad narrative review as a guide to making a decision concerning the use of specific therapy . The possible strengths of systematic review s should be more fully investigated . If there is additional evidence supporting their greater value to clinicians , they should be made more widely available to clinicians and their strengths should be publicized
The studies in this systematic review provide strong evidence of the antiplaque , antigingivitis effects of multiple agents .
BACKGROUND AND METHODS The author conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy of  antigingivitis and antiplaque products  in six-month trials .