Faculty Collaboration Database

Six-month comparison of powered versus manual toothbrushing for safety and efficacy in the absence of professional instruction in mechanical plaque control. J Periodontol 2002 Jul;73(7):770-8

Date

07/31/2002

Pubmed ID

12146537

DOI

10.1902/jop.2002.73.7.770

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0036045492 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   63 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reports suggest powered toothbrushing may provide some clinical benefit over manual tooth-brushing, but most studies have been of short duration with subjects trained in toothbrush use. The aim was to determine if the oscillating-rotating powered brush (PB) could safely provide clinical benefits over and above a manual brush (M) in subjects with no formal instruction or experience in powered brush use.

METHODS: This 6-month, single-masked, parallel design, randomized clinical trial compared the PB with an American Dental Association (ADA)-accepted soft-bristle manual brush in a non-flossing gingivitis population (n = 157). Subjects were given written instructions but no demonstration on toothbrush use at baseline. Efficacy was assessed by changes in gingival inflammation, plaque, calculus, and stain, while changes in clinical attachment levels and recession measurements provided safety data. A prophylaxis was provided after baseline assessment. The 6-month plaque index (PI) was recorded immediately post-brushing after covert timing of the subjects, and correlation analyses were run to assess the relationship of brushing time to PI. Paired t tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to assess within and between treatment group differences for PB (n = 76) versus M groups (n = 81).

RESULTS: Measures of inflammation showed a statistically significant drop for both brushes at 3 and 6 months. Mean overnight full-mouth PI scores were significantly lower at 3 months for the PB (1.57) compared to the M group (1.80), P = 0.0013. Immediate post-brushing PI at 6 months was also significantly lower for the PB (1.10) versus M (1.39) (P= 0.0025). There was an overall negative correlation for PI and brushing time (r = -0.377, P= 0.0001). Mean calculus index (CI) scores were lower for the PB at 3 (P= 0.0304) and 6 months (P = 0.0078), while no significant differences in stain were observable. Clinical attachment level and recession measurements showed no significant between-group changes from baseline for either brush on canine teeth or on teeth with recession at baseline.

CONCLUSION: The oscillating-rotating toothbrush safely provides clinical benefits in plaque and calculus reduction over a manual brush even in subjects with no formal oral hygiene instruction.

Author List

Dentino AR, Derderian G, Wolf M, Cugini M, Johnson R, Van Swol RL, King D, Marks P, Warren P

Author

Andrew Dentino BS,DDS,PhD Professor & Program Director of Periodontics in the Surgical Sciences department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Dental Calculus
Dental Plaque
Dental Plaque Index
Electricity
Equipment Safety
Female
Gingivitis
Health Education, Dental
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oral Hygiene Index
Periodontal Index
Single-Blind Method
Tooth Discoloration
Toothbrushing