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Novel Medicated Dental Floss for Dental Prophylaxis

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 22179
Amount: $47,129.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1993
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
5 Howland Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Mark A. Bowen
 (617) 868-4433
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The purpose is the development of an improved dental floss incorporating a medicated lubricant for the prevention of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. Gingivitis is largely caused by bacterial activity. Efforts to control intraoral flora by the use of antimicrobial agents, particularly chlorhexidine compounds, have been promising. By incorporating chlorhexidine compounds in a water soluble dental floss lubricant, the antimicrobial will be deposited directly into the interdental spaces which are most susceptible to disease. The relative ease of use of the system will encourage patient compliance and could offer the possibility of dental prophylaxis in difficult situations such as hospital wards or for military personnel in the field. Several different chlorhexidine compounds with differing solubility rates will be prepared. Growth zone inhibition tests will be performed on the lubricant prepara- tions. Promising preparations will be tested in vitro using tooth models to determine the effectiveness of transfer to the tooth surface and continued activity against oral pathogens. Results of this testing should lead to the selection of a system capable of delivering optimal levels of medication for effective preventive dental care.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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