In Vitro Studies of the Calculus-Inhibiting Properties of Tooth Surface Polishing Agents and Chelating Agents

¹ US Army Dental Detachment, Fort Knox, Kentucky 40121, USA and Preventive Dentistry Research Institute, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 410 Beauty Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

A series of in vitro studies was conducted to determine the effects of flour of pumice, magnesium silicate-zirconium silicate, and zirconium silicate on the deposition of calculuslike material on bovine enamel sections or human dentin-cementum sections. Flour of pumice used as a "prophylaxis type" agent did not have any effect on the deposition of calculuslike material. Zirconium silicate used as a prophylactic agent on bovine enamel reduced in vitro calculus formation by 32.0 to 38.0%. Daily rinses with a 5.0% aqueous solution of an amidopolyphosphate reduced calculus formation significantly on bovine enamel by 57.0 to 68.2% when compared with nontreated enamel sections.