The use of a plaque disclosing agent in the dental hygiene practice: a literature review

Objectives The daily use of dental plaque disclosing agents is able to enhance the efficacy of both professional and domestic oral hygiene procedures. The aim of this article is to describe the different formulations of these products and to test their clinical results. Materials and methods Since 1914 many colorants, with different codifications and chemical concentrations, have been used, although their application procedures have remained unvaried. In this literature analysis some key words were chosen, then translated into English and finally searched, in both languages, on specific search engines. Only scientific articles and textbooks published between 1970 and 2014, both in Italian and English languages were included in this review. Results User friendliness and product safety make plaque disclosing agents suitable for all collaborative patients. The very few articles found in the literature show how plaque disclosing agents are subject to debate regarding their usefulness and effectiveness. Conclusions Although no clear efficacy evidence exists to encourage the use of a plaque disclosing agent, the literature review seems to support the colorimetric technique for its ability to increase plaque control and patient compliance.