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PubMed1996

A six-month clinical evaluation of the Dentrust toothbrush.

Clinical study guidelines have been established by the American Dental Association for assessing plaque and gingivitis reductions with chemotherapeutic agents. Two six-month studies are required. While the toothbrush is also instrumental in plaque and gingivitis reduction, there are currently no study requirements by the ADA for manual brush efficacy. It was thought to apply the long-term efficacy requirements for chemotherapeutic agents to two manual toothbrushes to assess their efficacy for comparative purposes. Forty-eight subjects using the Dentrust toothbrush and forty-five subjects using the Oral-B toothbrush completed a six-month study to assess safety, plaque removal and gingivitis reduction. The subjects were randomly assigned to use either the newly designed (three sided) Dentrust toothbrush or the traditional flat-headed toothbrush. The subjects took their respective toothbrushes home following a baseline evaluation, and were subsequently assessed at three and six months by the same examiners with the same indices in this single-blind trial. There were no significant differences between the two groups on plaque removal during the study. At six months, the Dentrust group removed a significant amount of both buccal and lingual plaque and the flat-headed toothbrush removed a significant amount of buccal plaque only. On gingivitis the groups had no significant differences at baseline; however, by six months the Dentrust group was significantly better than the flat-headed toothbrush on gingivitis reduction. Long-term use of the Dentrust toothbrush can be said to significantly contribute to gingival health overall, and especially in the hard to reach lingual areas compared to long-term use of a traditional flat-head toothbrush.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Effect of brushing with sonic and counterrotational toothbrushes on the bond strength of full veneer crowns.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Earlier studies on orthodontic brackets have shown a loss of bond strength after a sonic toothbrush was used. PURPOSE: This in vitro study evaluated the difference in bond strength of single complete veneer crowns after being subjected to the equivalent of 2 years of brushing with sonic and counterrotational toothbrushes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Complete gold crowns were fabricated with a conventional indirect technique for 30 extracted, intact, prepared human premolar teeth. Castings were then luted to the teeth with glass ionomer cement. Teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 teeth each, 1 group to be brushed with Sonicare sonic toothbrush, 1 group to be brushed with Interplak counterrotational mechanical toothbrush, and 1 group as the control. Groups 1 and 2 were then brushed for the equivalent of 2 years per tooth. A uniform force of 50 g for the sonic toothbrush and 120 g for the counterrotational toothbrush was used. Control specimens were not brushed. Brush heads and sample teeth in contact with the toothbrush were kept moist at all times. Tensile dislodgment force was determined with an Instron universal testing machine. RESULTS: The castings brushed with a sonic toothbrush required a mean of 43.22 kg (+/- 11.16) force to remove the crowns from the teeth, whereas the counterrotational group required a mean of 42.87 kg (+/- 10.42) and the control group a mean of 42.12 kg (+/- 6.61). Analysis of variance on the force data indicated no differences among the 3 groups in the force needed to remove the castings (F[2,24] = 0.031, P = .97). CONCLUSION: This in vitro study demonstrated no significant differences between groups in the amount of tensile dislodgment force required to remove cemented full veneer crowns from prepared teeth after brushing for the equivalent of 2 years time with a sonic toothbrush or a counterrotational toothbrush.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Longitudinal study to assess the effectivity of electric and manual toothbrushes for children.

BACKGROUND: Prophylaxis efforts for the maintenance of tooth health led to a distinctive decrease in caries frequency with children and young persons. Because the toothbrush can still be described as the most important oral hygiene aid, possible differences between the effectivity of electric and manual toothbrushes should be tested in the present study. Elementary school children had been instructed--within a special prophylaxis program--over a period of three years to clean their teeth partly with electric partly with manual toothbrushes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In two parallel classes (1st class) of the same elementary school (Private Martinusschule Mainz-Gonsenheim) the A-class (n = 24 children) was instructed to clean their teeth with a manual toothbrush suitable for children (Oral-B, Power Tip, Braun AG, Kronberg, Germany) whereas the B-class (n = 26) received electric toothbrushes (Oral-B-7 EB 5 K, Braun AG, Kronberg, Germany). Every three months the children were instructed in group-preventive methods in school, followed by cleaning instructions, remotivations and the distribution of new electric respectively manual toothbrushes. In order to record the influence of the intensive quarterly oral hygiene instruction, elementary school children (1st class) of the same school type were looked after and examined within the yearly group prophylaxis (n = 40). The yearly dental examinations included the recording of carious frequency (DMF-T, dmf-t), approximal plaque accumulation (API), and the evaluation of the gingival state (GI-Index) as well as the present dental restorative materials. RESULTS: After an investigation period of three years no essential differences regarding caries frequency, proportion of dentitions of natural state of health and plaque involvement were found with the children of the respective classes. Children using electric toothbrushes showed after 3 years 27% of healthy-natured dentitions on average (46% of the children had got API-values of up to 30%) and the children who used manual toothbrushes showed 22% of nature-healthy dentitions (52% of the children had got API-values of up to 30%) and in 33% of the control children who received instructions only once a year healthy-natured dentitions were found after 3 years (75% of the children had got API-values of up to 35%). CONCLUSIONS: With regard to caries and gingivitis prevalence modern electric toothbrushes for children can be considered equally efficient like conventional manual toothbrushes for children with children of normal caries risk.

Child↗
PubMed2000

An advanced toothbrush with improved plaque removal efficacy.

PURPOSE: To compare the plaque removal efficacy and safety of a new advanced manual toothbrush, the Oral-B CrossAction, with seven other toothbrushes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven independent, cross-over design clinical studies were conducted using the same examiner who was blind to the identity of the test products and treatment assignments. In each study, approximately 75 healthy adult subjects from a general population brushed with their randomly assigned toothbrush (CrossAction or comparison brush) at Visit 1 for 1 min without supervision or instruction in brushing technique. Subjects returned after a 1-week washout period and brushed with the alternate toothbrush (Visit 2). Plaque was evaluated before and after brushing using the Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index. Statistical analyses were conducted by an independent statistician who remained blind to the identity of all test products. RESULTS: Each of the toothbrushes tested provided significant (P < or = 0.0001) reductions in plaque scores after a single brushing. In each of the studies, the CrossAction toothbrush removed significantly (P < or = 0.0001) greater amounts of whole mouth, gingival margin, and approximal plaque than the compared toothbrush. All toothbrushes were found to be safe, with no changes in oral tissues or restorations observed over the course of each study. The results from these studies were consistent, demonstrating that the CrossAction toothbrush significantly enhances the ability of subjects to remove more plaque during normal brushing compared to seven other toothbrushes.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The effectiveness of an ionic toothbrush in the removal of dental plaque and reduction on gingivitis in orthodontic patients.

This investigation was undertaken to determine if an ionic toothbrush was effective at removing plaque and reducing gingivitis in patients wearing orthodontic appliances. Fifty-two orthodontic patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups and completed a six-week double-blind study. Group 1 consisted of the test group using the ionic toothbrush with an active battery; group 2 consisted of the control group using the ionic toothbrush with an inactive battery. The plaque and gingival indices were measured at baseline, two weeks, and six weeks. The findings demonstrated that the active ionic toothbrush was no more effective at plaque removal and gingivitis reduction than the inactive toothbrush. Although the active toothbrush did effectively remove plaque and reduce gingivitis over the course of six weeks, it showed no significant improvement over the same toothbrush that contained an inactive battery. It was observed that the ionic toothbrush effectively reduced plaque and gingivitis regardless of the presence or absence of an active battery. The clinical findings demonstrated that an active ionic toothbrush was no more effective in removing plaque and reducing gingivitis in patients with orthodontic appliances than an inactive ionic toothbrush.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Dental plaque removal with two battery-powered toothbrushes.

PURPOSE: To compare the plaque removal efficacy of a positive control power toothbrush (Colgate Actibrush) to an experimental power toothbrush (Crest SpinBrush) following a single use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, 4-period crossover design which examined plaque removal with the two toothbrushes following a single use in 39 completed subjects. Plaque was scored before and after brushing using the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Index. RESULTS: Baseline plaque scores averaged 2.18 and 2.16 for the experimental toothbrush and control toothbrush treatment groups, respectively. With respect to all surfaces examined, the experimental toothbrush delivered an adjusted (via analysis of covariance) mean difference between baseline and post-brushing plaque scores of 0.66 while the control toothbrush delivered an adjusted mean difference of 0.43. This represents an increase of 55% plaque removal relative to the control power toothbrush. The difference between brushes was statistically significant (P < 0.001). With respect to buccal and lingual surfaces, the experimental toothbrush delivered very consistent results relative to the control toothbrush. The differences between brushes were also statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

A study to assess the safety and tolerability of three toothbrushes.

This study evaluated the oral soft tissue safety and tolerability of an experimental powered toothbrush (Crest SpinBrush Pro) compared to two leading manual toothbrushes: an advanced-design manual toothbrush (Oral-B CrossAction) and a flat-trimmed toothbrush (Oral-B 40 Indicator). Manual brushes are generally viewed as safe for use, and as such are appropriate controls. A total of 140 subjects was enrolled in this single-center, randomized, examiner-blind parallel study over a four-week test period. Subjects were instructed to brush in their normal manner, twice per day for 60 seconds per use. An oral soft tissue interview and examination were conducted by a trained dentist examiner at baseline, as well as three days and four weeks after baseline to assess clinical signs and symptoms of oral irritation associated with use of the toothbrushes. Overall, there were 19 adverse events reported for 18 subjects (13% of the population). The adverse events were distributed across test groups with five subjects in the experimental powered brush group, eight in the advanced design manual toothbrush group and five in the flat-trimmed toothbrush group experiencing at least one adverse event. The most frequently reported adverse event was localized irritation/inflammation of the gingiva. All adverse events were mild in severity except for one report of severe hyperesthesia (tooth sensitivity) in the advanced-design manual toothbrush group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for the proportion of subjects reporting adverse events at either three days or four weeks of product use. The results of this study indicate that daily use with the Crest SpinBrush Pro powered toothbrush is at least as safe as two leading manual toothbrushes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Comparative clinical study in plaque removal efficacy of a new sonic toothbrush (Float-Brush) with floating bristle action.

OBJECTIVE: Floating action toothbrush bristles have been incorporated into a V-shaped sonic toothbrush. The base of the bristles moves down or up according to the pressure of the toothbrush being applied to a tooth surface. It was thought that this floating action with sonic vibration may generate new motion for increased plaque removal efficacy through increased contact between bristles and tooth surfaces. The objective of this investigation was to compare the plaque removal efficacy of a sonic toothbrush with floating bristle action (Float-Brush) to either a conventional V-shaped sonic toothbrush (Techno-Brush) or a manual toothbrush. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-blind, three-treatment cross-over study was performed on 42 subjects. Each subject refrained from brushing for 24 hours, followed by assessment for dental plaque on the Ramfjord teeth employing the Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index. Plaque removal efficacy was determined by the percentage of plaque score reduction in a single-use toothbrushing under supervision for two minutes. RESULTS: Forty participants completed this study. No significant difference in pre-brushing plaque scores was detected among the three toothbrushes. In the comparison of whole mouth mean scores, plaque removal efficacy of the Float-Brush (65.0%) was significantly higher than that of the Techno-Brush (59.1%, p = 0.0487) and the manual toothbrush (50.9%, p < 0.0001). Superiority of the Float-Brush was similar to whole mouth scores, when comparing the gumline and interproximal tooth area scores. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the superiority of the Float-Brush for plaque removal compared to the Techno-Brush and the manual toothbrush.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Comparative analysis of the plaque removal ability of .007 and .008 toothbrush bristles.

A two-phase study was conducted to compare the plaque-removal effectiveness of a .007 toothbrush and a .008 toothbrush when used in an unsupervised home-care program. In the first phase of the study, two children's toothbrushes, a .007 toothbrush (POH Junior #8) and a .008 toothbrush (Allie-Croc), were compared in a population of third through sixth grade children. The .007 group had a greater reduction of plaque from pretest to post-test than the .008 group in all grades, with statistically significant differences favoring the .007 toothbrush for fourth and sixth grades. In phase two a .007 adult toothbrush (POH #4) was compared to a .008 adult toothbrush (Oral B 40) in a population of nursing and dental hygiene students. Both toothbrushes performed equally well with a significant decrease in plaque and gingival inflammation observed from pretest to post-test regardless of toothbrush used. Any changes in soft-tissue abrasion were negligible and not statistically significant. Based on the results of this study, both brushes appear to be safe and effective and can be recommended with confidence.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The clinical effect of a newly designed electric toothbrush on supragingival plaque, gingivitis and gingival bleeding.

A clinical study was carried out in an attempt to assess the efficacy of a newly designed electric toothbrush compared to a conventional manual toothbrush using the American Dental Association's protocol for evaluating toothbrushes. An Oral-B 35 manual toothbrush, which served as the control, was compared to the Plaq & White125 electric toothbrush. Examinations were performed by two calibrated examiners at baseline, day 15 and day 30. Examinations included the gingival index, plaque index and bleeding index. Mean indices were calculated and compared between the two brushes using the repeated measures multiple analysis of variance. No statistically significant differences between the mean indices on the three examination days were observed following the use of the manual or the electric toothbrushes. The results of this study demonstrate that the electric toothbrush was numerically more effective than the manual toothbrush in reducing supragingival plaque levels, either before or after brushing, at each examination date compared to baseline plaque values. However, this difference was not statistically significant. This and other findings concluded that the Plaq & White toothbrush is comparable to the control ADA-accepted toothbrush.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Toothbrush pressures of orthodontic patients.

The intention of this study was to determine whether toothbrushing pressures varied significantly between groups of orthodontic patients who were good toothbrushers and those who were poor toothbrushers. Seventy-two patients undergoing full-banded orthodontic treatment were selected from the author's practice and were subjectively paired by him according to their habitual oral hygiene. One group of thirty-six patients who habitually displayed poor oral hygiene was compared to a group of thirty-six patients who habitually displayed good oral hygiene. A specially designed strain gauge with a force-averaging feedback mechanism was attached to each patient's manual toothbrush, and the force with which that patient brushed was averaged and recorded in pounds. The poor brushers averaged 0.20 pound, whereas the average pressure of the good brushers was 0.89 pound. The statistical evidence indicates that the difference between the two groups is highly significant and is unlikely to be due to chance alone. This study has shown that toothbrush pressures can be easily and accurately measured. The attempt to objectify a single characteristic of toothbrushing behavior in an orthodontic population is an effort to avoid the medical model explanation of behavior vis-a-vis the nonspecific and subjective word attitude. Future studies will determine whether poor toothbrushers can be changed into good toothbrushers through the progressive acquisition of greater toothbrushing forces.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Effectiveness of three different types of electric toothbrushes compared with a manual technique in orthodontic patients.

Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances are at risk of developing carious white spot lesions and gingival inflammation because of the challenge of oral hygiene. The purpose of this study was to evaluate under home conditions the effectiveness of three different types of electric toothbrushes during active appliance therapy: Interplak (Bausch & Lomb, Berlin, Germany), Rota-dent (Rota-dent, Kusnacht, Switzerland), and Braun Oral-B Plaque Remover (Braun/Oral-B, Kronberg, Germany). A manual technique, which included normal toothbrush, interdental brush, and dental floss, served as reference. The study was structured as a single-blind "Latin square design" study. Thirty-eight orthodontic patients were randomly allocated to groups who, within the test period, alternately used the toothbrushes. Before getting a new toothbrush that was to be used for a period of 4 weeks, each patient received video and written instructions. For another 4 weeks, the patient returned to the usual oral hygiene procedures before receiving the next new toothbrush. Oral hygiene was evaluated at the start of a new test period and after 2 and 4 weeks. Clinical scores included a modified O'Leary Plaque Index and Ainamo Gingival Bleeding Index. Wilcoxon rank testing for aggregated surfaces revealed statistically significantly lower plaque scores for Rota-dent than for the manual technique (p < 0.01). For all other toothbrushes, no differences were found in comparison to the manual technique. For Plaque Indices of specific sites, statistical analysis revealed all electric toothbrushes to be equal to the manual technique. No differences in Gingival Bleeding Indices were found after 4 weeks with either toothbrush. Patients with poor oral hygiene who used Rota-dent and Braun Oral-B Plaque Remover OD5 had statistically significantly lower plaque scores compared with the manual technique (p < 0.01; p < 0.05); for patients with good oral hygiene, these differences were neutralized. It may be concluded that electric toothbrushes of the new generation are a real alternative to the often laborious manual tooth cleaning procedures used during active appliance therapy. Patients with poor oral hygiene may benefit from them especially because plaque removal can be achieved easier and faster.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Effect of toothbrush wear on plaque control.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of progressive toothbrush wear on plaque control. At baseline (week 0), each of 20 subjects was given a new toothbrush which they used for the 9-week period of the study. At weeks 0, 3 and 6, all plaque was professionally removed. The amount of plaque which accumulated in each of the 3 successive 3-week experimental periods was assessed at weeks 3, 6 and 9. Toothbrush wear was evaluated by measuring the increase in the brushing surface area of toothbrushes at weeks 3, 6 and 9 as compared with week 0. The brushing surface area was measured by computer analysis of tracings of the brushing surface outlines obtained from standardized photographs. Despite progressive toothbrush wear, the amount of plaque which accumulated in each successive 3-week period decreased. The decrease in plaque scores between weeks 3 and 6 and between weeks 3 and 9 were found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). Toothbrush wear varied widely amongst the subjects. When plaque scores were evaluated for the 10 subjects with highest toothbrush wear, and the 10 with lowest wear, no significant differences were found between the 2 subgroups. Under the experimental conditions of this study, progressive toothbrush wear did not lead to a decrease in plaque control. The improvement in plaque scores may have been due to motivational effects resulting from study participation and anticipation of oral examinations. It was concluded that the wear status of a toothbrush may not be critical in ensuring optimal plaque control.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Toothbrushing force in relation to plaque removal.

This was a 2-part study. The purpose of the 1st part was to examine the relationship between brushing force and plaque removal efficacy comparing a regular manual toothbrush (M) with an electric toothbrush the Braun/Oral-B Plak Control (B). The study consisted of a single oral prophylaxis followed by 5 experiments which differed solely in respect to toothbrushing force. At baseline (after 24-h plaque accumulation), the amount of dental plaque was evaluated and subsequently, the subject's mouth was brushed by a dental hygienist. Brushing was carried out in a random split-mouth order. Either the 1st and 3rd quadrants or the 2nd and 4th quadrants were brushed with 1 toothbrush and the 2 remaining quadrants with the other. The available time for the brushing procedure was 2 min. After brushing, the amount of remaining dental plaque was assessed. The force used in experiment 1 through 5 was 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 g, respectively. The results show that when brushing force is increased, more plaque is removed with either of the two brushes. Except for the high brushing force (300 g), the electric toothbrush removed more plaque than the manual brush. The purpose of the 2nd part was to evaluate the habitual brushing force which individuals use with various toothbrushes. Besides a manual toothbrush (M), 3 electric toothbrushes were examined, the Rotadent (R), Interplak (I) and Braun (B). 20 subjects were selected on the basis of being 'good brushers' (plaque score at screening < 25%). At baseline, each subject randomly received 1 of the 4 brushes. They were allowed a training period of 3 weeks at the end of which they were asked to abstain from brushing for at least 24 h. The plaque (Turesky modification of the Quigley & Hein) was scored, after which the subjects brushed their teeth (2 min) with the assigned toothbrush equipped with a strain gauge. A computer set-up measured (100 Hz) and calculated the mean brushing force. After brushing, the amount of remaining plaque was assessed. The design of the study was a 4-way cross-over. The results show that with a manual brush, considerably more force is used than with the electric brushes (R = 96, I = 119, B = 146, M = 273). No significant relation between brushing force and plaque removal was demonstrated for any of the brushes.

Cross-Over Studies↗
PubMed1996

Comparative single-use plaque removal by toothbrushes of different designs.

Overall literature reviews have concluded that no one design of the manual toothbrush is superior for plaque removal. More recently, a toothbrush with filaments angled away from the head was shown to be more effective in several single-use studies than conventional designs. The aim of this study was to compare plaque removal by this new toothbrush and 3 other toothbrushes which had more conventional filament arrangements. 36 volunteers participated in this single-blind, randomised, 4-cell, crossover single use toothbrushing study. On day 1 of each period, volunteers brushed with a standard toothbrush and toothpaste for 60 s and then suspended oral hygiene for 48 h. On day 3, volunteers were scored for plaque by area and then brushed with the allocated test toothbrush with toothpaste for 60 s and plaque area was rescored. A washout of 4 days was allowed between test periods. The plaque areas were used to record the binary scores of the Rustogi et al. modification of the modified Navy plaque index but away from the clinic employing the Claydon and Addy procedural method for the index. Plaque removal scored by area and site were not significantly different between the brushes. This study is at variance with previous similar investigations which suggested that the new design of toothbrush head was superior for plaque removal. It is concluded again that there are no data which demonstrate unequivocally that any one manual toothbrush design is superior to any other for plaque removal.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Australian dentists' views on toothbrush wear and renewal.

The purpose of this study was to survey the views of Australian dentists on toothbrush wear, toothbrush renewal periods and recommendations to patients and to investigate the relationship between dentists' views on patients' toothbrush renewal intervals and dentists' own renewal habits. Questionnaires were mailed to 5,596 Australian general dental practitioners and replies received from 3,406 (61 per cent response rate). The majority of respondents (85.7 per cent) felt patients should renew their toothbrushes more often. However, only 45.3 per cent usually made a recommendation to their patients as to when they should renew their toothbrush and only 41.7 per cent thought patients actually followed such recommendations. Most respondents (56.6 per cent) thought the average adult patient should renew a toothbrush every two-three months. A renewal period of one month or earlier was recommended by 23.8 per cent of dentists; four-five months by 8 per cent; and six months or longer by 11.5 per cent. A highly significant correlation was found between the renewal periods recommended for patients and the intervals selected by the dentists for their personal brushes (p < 0.001; chi-square test). Bending and splaying of bristles was the sign identified by the majority of dentists (70 per cent) as indicating the need for a new brush. The findings suggest dentists' recommendations concerning toothbrush renewal intervals may be based on their own toothbrush renewal habits. It is also concluded that dentists think patients comply poorly with their recommendations on toothbrush renewal.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A comparison of two electric toothbrushes with respect to plaque removal and subject preference.

PURPOSE: To compare the safety and plaque removal efficacy, and subject preference of two electric toothbrushes in a single-blind, randomized, split-mouth study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The devices studied were the Braun Oral-B 3D Plaque Remover and the sonicare electric toothbrush. The 3D toothbrush combines the clinically proven oscillating/rotating action of the D9 with a sonic frequency pulsating action in the direction of the long axis of the bristles, giving a three-dimensional cleaning action. At an initial visit, the subjects (n = 44) were given a baseline examination of the oral soft tissues and a full mouth prophylaxis and instructed in the use of the two products, which was followed by a 4-week training period. After 2 weeks of using each toothbrush on alternate days, brushing technique was checked. After a further 2 weeks, having abstained from oral hygiene for 48 hours, two contralateral quadrants of the mouth were randomly assigned to be cleaned by the subjects with each toothbrush. Plaque assessments and soft tissue examinations were made before and after brushing. Plaque was evaluated according to a refinement of the Modified Navy Plaque Index. At the end of the study, subjects completed a product evaluation questionnaire. RESULTS: Plaque levels were significantly reduced by both toothbrushes (P = 0.001), but the efficacy of the 3D electric toothbrush was significantly greater than that of the sonicare toothbrush (P = 0.001) for all comparisons. Plaque reduction was particularly marked in the interproximal areas, reaching 87% with the 3D product, compared with 68% for sonicare (P = 0.001). In the responses to the questionnaire, the majority of subjects stated that they preferred the 3D toothbrush (88% vs 12%), mainly because of the smaller size of the brush, ease of control and overall maneuverability.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Clinical study of the effectiveness of two sonic toothbrushes.

The aim of this study was to determine the oral hygiene effects of two sonic toothbrushes, the Water Pik Sonic Speed (W) and Sonicare (S), compared to a manual toothbrush (Elmex Super 39, E). Thirty-six healthy volunteers between 13 and 69 years of age participated in this single-blind, crossover study. They were randomly assigned to three groups, with 12 participants each. Two weeks after a screening examination, a baseline examination was performed for each participant followed by professional tooth cleaning. Three indices were recorded to assess the oral hygiene status: a papillary bleeding index (PBI), a plaque index for smooth surfaces (PI) and a plaque index for approximal surfaces (API). After instructions on how to use the toothbrushes, each group started the experiment with a different type of toothbrush. After two weeks of application, the indices were recorded a second time. This was followed by two weeks of recess, where each participant used the same brand of manual toothbrush, and then before each group switched to the next toothbrush, participants had another baseline examination and professional tooth cleaning. The three types of brushes were used in the following order: S, E, W; recess; E, W, S; recess; W, S, E. The duration of the study was 12 weeks. A single investigator performed all examinations. The Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for statistical analysis. Compared to the manual toothbrush the Sonic Speed and the Sonicare were more effective in removing plaque and preventing gingivitis. The study indicated that the two sonic toothbrushes may be effective alternatives to a commonly used manual toothbrush.

Adolescent↗