Fluoride, Potassium, Calcium, Zinc Bioanalysis in Plaque or Saliva

Saliva or plaque analysis for fluoride, potassium, calcium or zinc determination using ICP-MS or ion-selective electrodes, for product delivery studies & oral clearance supporting oral care product development or marketing claims

The analysis of fluoride, potassium, calcium or zinc in saliva or plaque yields useful information about the delivery of these agents from toothpastes and mouthwashes and their subsequent clearance from the oral cavity.

Dentifrice products such as toothpastes are formulated with a variety of therapeutic agents designed to provide the consumer with clinical benefits. Common examples are fluoride and calcium for the repair and protection of tooth enamel, zinc as an anti-plaque, anti-calculus and anti-malodour agent and potassium to combat dentine sensitivity.

It is important to understand how these agents are released from products when they are used, how they disperse in the mouth, where they are delivered to and how long they persist in the mouth. Such understanding can help guide product formulation and development.

During clinical studies focused on the delivery and clearance of these active ingredients, the determination of fluoride, potassium, calcium or zinc in plaque or saliva are collected from volunteers. Samples of plaque or saliva can be analysed by our team of laboratory analysts for the particular ions of interest. We commonly use ion-selective electrodes for analysis of saliva samples. Plaque samples can be analysed using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy with optical emission spectroscopy detection (ICP-OES) in our GCP/GLP laboratory.

All data is quality checked before submission of a detailed report incorporating full statistical analysis, graphs and tables.

For over 18 years our Clinical Research Services group has been a trusted partner for developers and manufacturers of oral care products. Intertek's Total Quality Assurance expertise provide a one-source solution for in vitro studies providing robust data to support the efficacy and safety of novel treatments.