Comparative efficacy of a rotary and a sonic powered toothbrush on improving gingival health in treated adult periodontitis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of two powered brushing instruments (Rota-dent, rotary action instrument and Sonicare, a sonic instrument) for reductions of plaque and gingivitis in a treated adult periodontal patient population.


METHODS
Forty patients, randomly selected from a pool of patients in periodontal maintenance after surgical periodontal treatment, completed this study. A split mouth, blind, crossover design was utilized in this 12-week trial with each patient acting as his/her own control. After subjects alternately brushed one-half of their mouths with each of the instruments; a crossover in the brushing pattern occurred at 6 weeks, with no wash out period. Single-blind clinical assessments were made by a calibrated investigator at six sites per tooth for contralateral incisors, premolars and molars at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI) and Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI) were determined. A prophylaxis was done for all subjects after baseline recordings.


RESULTS
Mean percent reductions from baseline for GI, PI and PBI at the end of 6 and 12 weeks were 75.0%, 68.9%, 73.4% and 76.4%, 69.9%, 74.0%, respectively for the rotary instrument, and 57.7%, 53.3%, 54.3% and 57.7%, 53.6%, 54.7%, respectively for the sonic brush. One-way ANOVA indicated that the rotary instrument was significantly more effective (P < 0.005) than the sonic brush in removing plaque and reducing gingivitis in treated adult periodontitis patients.
Bader
H I
HI
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
Boyd
R L
RL
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy; D012399:Rotation; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013010:Sonication; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*