title: A comparative clinical investigation of a novel toothbrush designed to enhance plaque removal efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and efficacy of a new toothbrush with a novel brush head design (Oral-B CrossAction) in comparison with seven leading manual brushes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven independent clinical studies, each involving approximately 100 healthy subjects from a general population, were carried out using a crossover design. In each study, the Oral-B CrossAction toothbrush was compared with an alternative brush for plaque removal efficacy. Plaque was evaluated before and after brushing for 60 s using the Proximal/Marginal Plaque Index. Subjects were randomly assigned to the two brushes in each study and after brushing at visit 1 they returned after a further 2 weeks to repeat the procedure with the second brush.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All toothbrushes in the seven studies significantly reduced levels of plaque from their pre-brushing values and were found to be safe with no evidence of oral soft tissue trauma. In each of the studies, the CrossAction was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than the comparison brush for whole mouth plaque scores, as well as for plaque scores at the gingival margin and proximal surfaces. Advantages in favor of the CrossAction ranged from 9.8% to 23.2% for whole mouth plaque, from 5.3% to 20.6% for the gingival margin and from 12.8% to 24.5% for proximal surfaces. It was concluded that the novel brush head design of the CrossAction toothbrush provides enhanced plaque removal, especially from proximal surfaces, and that this toothbrush is significantly more effective than all seven toothbrushes tested.
authors.affiliation: NISCO, Northfield, NJ 08225, USA. NISCO4545@aol.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.forename: W Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Dembling
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D012824:Silicic Acid; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014100:Toothpastes; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices; D014100:Toothpastes; C546060:hydrated silica gel-based toothpaste; D012824:Silicic Acid; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012969:Sodium Fluoride