Plaque removal by a novel prototype power toothbrush versus a manual toothbrush: A randomized, exploratory clinical study

• Published in: Clinical and experimental dental research 2022-08, Vol.8 (4), p.849-857
• Main Authors: Gomez‐Pereira, Paola, Axe, Alyson, Butler, Andrew, Qaqish, Jimmy, Goyal, Chhaju R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofilms; Compliance; Dental plaque; Fluorides; gingivitis; Oral hygiene; Original; Orthodontics; plaque; power toothbrush; Review boards; Technological change; Toothbrushes; Toothpaste
• ISSN: 2057-4347; 2057-4347
• DOI: 10.1002/cre2.556

Objectives This exploratory study investigated plaque removal with a prototype constant, low rotation speed Power Toothbrush (PTB) with two brushing actions: “Gumline” (head rotates in the horizontal axis) and “Interdental” (head rotates in the vertical axis). Gumline alone and “Combined” (Gumline + Interdental) modes were compared with a Reference PTB and a Reference Manual Toothbrush (MTB) after one brushing. Materials and Methods Thirty‐nine participants were randomized to use each toothbrush once either in the sequence (A) Prototype PTB (in Gumline then Combined mode), (B) reference MTB, and (C) reference PTB or the sequence BAC. There was a minimum 3‐day washout between the use of each toothbrush. Plaque removal was measured using the Rustogi Modified Navy Dental Plaque Index (RMNPI) with change from baseline investigated using an analysis of covariance model. RMNPI scores were calculated on a “whole mouth” basis and along the gingival margin and at proximal sites only. Results For the primary efficacy variable, a significant difference was found in favor of the prototype PTB in gumline mode versus the reference MTB for whole mouth plaque score (difference: −0.06; standard error: 0.014; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.09 to −0.04; p