Dental plaque removal with two battery-powered toothbrushes.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the plaque removal efficacy of a positive control power toothbrush (Colgate Actibrush) to an experimental power toothbrush (Crest SpinBrush) following a single use.


METHODS
This study was a randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, 4-period crossover design which examined plaque removal with the two toothbrushes following a single use in 39 completed subjects. Plaque was scored before and after brushing using the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Index.


RESULTS
Baseline plaque scores averaged 2.18 and 2.16 for the experimental toothbrush and control toothbrush treatment groups, respectively. With respect to all surfaces examined, the experimental toothbrush delivered an adjusted (via analysis of covariance) mean difference between baseline and post-brushing plaque scores of 0.66 while the control toothbrush delivered an adjusted mean difference of 0.43. This represents an increase of 55% plaque removal relative to the control power toothbrush. The difference between brushes was statistically significant (P < 0.001). With respect to buccal and lingual surfaces, the experimental toothbrush delivered very consistent results relative to the control toothbrush. The differences between brushes were also statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Donly
Kevin J
KJ
University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, USA.
Segura
Adriana
A
Walters
Patricia A
PA
Bartizek
Robert D
RD
Biesbrock
Aaron R
AR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004396:Coloring Agents; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014070:Tooth / Q000473:pathology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004396:Coloring Agents