title: Plaque removal efficacy of two electric toothbrushes with different brush head designs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the safety and plaque removal efficacy of two electric toothbrushes, one a rechargeable oscillating/pulsating toothbrush with a small round brush head (Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7000; PC 7000), the other a battery-operated toothbrush with a dual moving brush head (Crest SpinBrush Pro; SBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study had a randomised, examiner-blind, two-arm crossover design. All subjects received an oral prophylaxis and used both toothbrushes on alternating days for a two-week practice period. After abstaining from all oral hygiene procedures for 23-25 hours, subjects received an oral tissue examination and those with pre-brushing whole mouth mean plaque scores > or = 0.60 measured by the Rustogi et al. Modified Navy Plaque Index were randomly assigned to treatment sequence. Subjects brushed with their assigned toothbrush for 2 minutes using a commercially available dentifrice. Oral tissues were then re-examined and post-brushing plaque scores recorded. After a brief washout period, the above procedures were repeated with the alternate toothbrush. One examiner, blinded to the treatment sequence, performed all clinical measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 70 subjects (24 males and 46 females) were enrolled and completed the study. Each toothbrush was found to be safe and significantly reduced plaque levels after a single brushing. The PC 7000 was significantly more effective in plaque removal than the SBP at all tooth areas, reducing whole mouth plaque by 61% versus 58% and plaque from approximal surfaces by 69% versus 65%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The action of the oscillating/pulsating toothbrush with a small round brush head, Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7000, is more effective in plaque removal than the battery-operated Crest SpinBrush Pro toothbrush with a larger dual moving brush head.
authors.affiliation: BioSci Research Canada Ltd., 6245 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5N 1A4, Canada.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Qaqish
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Galustians
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cugini
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy*; D004560:Electricity; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*