Hemodynamic characteristics of the studied population.

<p><i>Values are expressed as mean ± SD as a result of Mann-Whitney U-Test.</i></p

Stiffness- and pulse wave reflection related hemodynamics of the studied population.

<p><i>Values are expressed as mean ± SD as a result of Mann-Whitney U-Test.</i></p

Medication of the studied population.

<p><i>Values are expressed in % as result of Chi-squared test. NSAID = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ACE = angiotensin converting enzyme.</i></p

Clinical characteristics of the studied population.

<p><i>Values are expressed as mean ± SD as a result of Mann-Whitney U-Test for age and BMI or in % as a result of Chi-squared for the others.</i></p

Summary of sequence processing.

$<p>Sample abbreviations: Co, control group; Ex, experimental group; pre, before intervention; post, after intervention.</p>*<p>Number of remaining reads after applying quality criteria as described in the Methods section.</p>**<p>Unique high quality reads after de-noising the data by Single Linkage Preclustering at 2% edit distance.</p

Genomic equivalents per microliter of <i>P. gingivalis</i> and <i>T. forsythia</i> detected by real-time PCR.

*<p>not detected</p

OTU counts, richness and diversity estimates for the bacteria in subgingival plaque samples before and after intervention.

*<p>OTU clusters were generated by complete linkage clustering at 97% identity threshold excluding singleton clusters; numbers in parentheses give OTU counts including singleton clusters.</p

Relative abundance of the most prevalent genera (> = 1% relative abundance within one sample) in subgingival plaque samples before and after intervention.

<p>Each bar displays the normalized relative abundance (individual relative abundance divided by the number of analyzed samples at the given time point) of the corresponding genera pre and post intervention. Each bar is further partitioned into four stacked parts for each of the four analyzed patients. The color indicates the type of intervention (blue for control, red for experimental group).</p

Impact of the Daily Use of a Microcrystal Hydroxyapatite Dentifrice on <i>De Novo</i> Plaque Formation and Clinical/Microbiological Parameters of Periodontal Health. A Randomized Trial

<div><p>Aim</p><p>This 12-week prospective, randomized, double-blind, two-center trial evaluated the impact of a microcrystalline zinc hydroxyapatite (mHA) dentifrice on plaque formation rate (PFR) in chronic periodontitis patients. We hypothesized that mHA precipitates cause delayed plaque development when compared to a fluoridated control (AmF/SnF₂), and therefore would improve periodontal health.</p><p>Material & Methods</p><p>At baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks, PFR and other clinical and microbiological parameters were recorded. Seventy periodontitis patients received a mHA or AmF/SnF₂ dentifrice as daily oral care without hygiene instructions. Four weeks after baseline, participants received full mouth debridement and continued using the dentifrices for another 8 weeks.</p><p>Results</p><p>Primary outcome PFR did not change statistically significantly from baseline to weeks 4 and 12, neither in mHA (n = 33; 51.7±17.2% vs. 48.5±16.65% vs. 48.4±19.9%) nor in AmF/SnF₂-group (n = 34; 52.3±17.5% vs. 52.5±21.3% vs. 46.1±21.8%). Secondary clinical parameters such as plaque control record, gingival index, bleeding on probing, and pocket probing depth improved, but between-group differences were not statistically significant. Microbiological analyses showed similar slight decreases in colony-forming units in both groups.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>In patients with mild-to-moderate periodontitis, periodontal therapy and use of a mHA-or AmF/SnF₂ dentifrice without instructions induced comparable improvements in periodontal health but did not significantly reduce the PFR.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClincalTrials.gov <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02697539?term=NCT02697539&rank=1" target="_blank">NCT02697539</a></p></div

Microbiological results at baseline and follow ups (means±SD). Log–transformed bacteria counts.

<p>Microbiological results at baseline and follow ups (means±SD). Log–transformed bacteria counts.</p