The effect of miswak and tooth brush filaments end-surface texture on enamel. A SEM pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare the abrasive effect of miswak and toothbrush filaments on enamel tooth surface.


METHODS
Ten maxillary central incisors were obtained from Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, King Saud University, College of Dentistry. Twenty specimen were prepared, they were divided into 4 groups (1) Butler toothbrush; (2) Aquafresh toothbrush; (3) Miswak; (4) Control group. Miswak, Aquafresh 311 and Butler 311 tooth brush were used with light pressure in one direction motion for 60 seconds on enamel surface. The specimens were prepared for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) examination. The middle filament from toothbrushes and miswak were also prepared for SEM.


RESULTS
Showed that filaments end-surface texture play a major role in abrasive active activity and enamel tooth surface loss.


CONCLUSIONS
The Butler 311 toothbrush and miswak showed lesser effect on enamel as compared to Aquafresh 311 toothbrush.
Almas
Khalid
K
Division of Periodontics, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. khalidalmas@yahoo.com
Atassi
Farhad
F
D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D029592:Oleaceae; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018547:Plant Stems; D013499:Surface Properties; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000473:pathology; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*