title: The effectiveness of a magnetized water oral irrigator (Hydro Floss) on plaque, calculus and gingival health.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a magnetized water oral irrigator on plaque, calculus and gingival health. 29 patients completed this double-blind crossover study. Each patient was brought to baseline via an oral prophylaxis with a plaque index < or = 1 and a gingival index < or = 1. Subjects used the irrigator for a period of 3 months with the magnet and 3 months without the magnet. After each 3 month interval, data were collected using the plaque index, gingival index, and accretions index. The repeated measures analysis on plaque, gingival and calculus indices yielded a statistically-significant period effect for PlI (p=0.0343), GI (p=0.0091), and approached significance for calculus (p=0.0593). This meant that the effect of irrigation resulted in a decrease of all indices over time. Therefore, the treatment effect on each index was evaluated using only the measurements obtained at the end of the first period (i.e., assuming a parallel design). Irrigation with magnetized water resulted in 64% less calculus compared to the control group. The reduction was statistically significant (p< or =0.02). The reduction by 27% in gingival index was not statistically significant. The reduction in plaque was minimal (2.2%). A strong positive correlation between the plaque index and the Watt accretion index was observed. The magnetized water oral irrigator could be a useful adjunct in the prevention of calculus accumulation in periodontal patients, but appears to have minimal effect on plaque reduction. The results indicated a clinical improvement in the gingival index, but this was not a statistically significant finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2663, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gellin
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Palesch
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010512:Periodontal Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water