Difference in effectiveness between the topical application of acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste in reducing plaque accumulation in children

Plaque accumulation is the buildup of bacterial substances on dental surface. Plaque can be controlled using anti-bacterial chemicals such as acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) and casein phosphopeptideamorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP). The function of APF and CPP-ACP is to inhibit the growth and adhesion of bacterial plaque colonization by S. mutans on the tooth’s surface. This study aims to identify differences in the effectiveness of the topical application of APF gel and CPP-ACP paste against plaque accumulation in children. The research applied a quasi-experimental method with a time-series design. The study was conducted at the Nur Hidayah and Ihsan Sakeena orphanages in Surakarta, where 30 children aged 6-12 were involved as research subjects, divided into two treatment groups namely the APF and CPP-ACP groups. Topical application of APF was given once on the first day, while that of CPP-ACP was administered once a day from the first until the seventh day. Plaque score data were obtained by PHP-M plaque score measurement. Total plaque scores were measured on day 1 before and after application, day 7 and day 14. Results show declining average plaque scores between the first day prior to topical application of APF and CPP-ACP and the fourteenth day afterwards. Independent samples tests reveal differences in effectiveness of topical APF gel and CPP-ACP paste application on plaque accumulation in children on day 7 and day 14, but no difference in plaque score change on day 1 ahead of and following application. Topical application of CPP-ACP paste decreases plaque accumulation in children more effectively than that of APF gel.