Blinded clinical evaluation of a new manual toothbrush.
OBJECTIVE
A new manual toothbrush with an innovative design has recently been introduced into the marketplace. The purpose of this single-blind, crossover study was to compare plaque removal associated with this new manual toothbrush (Curvex) and a best-selling commercially available manual tootbrush (Oral-B Indicator 40).


METHODS
Over a five-week period, twenty-one subjects participated in this investigation. Following random assignment, ten of the subjects started with the Curvex toothbrush, and the remaining subjects began with the Oral-B Indicator 40 toothbrush. Subjects brushed twice daily for two minutes over a two-week period. After a one-week washout period, the subjects brushed with the alternate toothbrush for two weeks. At the beginning and end of each two-week trial period, subjects were scored before and after brushing using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (T/Q-H). Findings of reductions in plaque scores were limited to "before vs. after" assessments. Plaque scores were measured in each subject (up to 168 sites) on each of four occasions.


RESULTS
The average baseline and test plaque scores for the Oral-B Indicator 40 brush were 2.41 and 1.72; for the Curvex brush these values were 2.34 and 1.69. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no difference between brushes. Paired-comparison t-tests were conducted on each of the 168 evaluated sites, and no patterns of superiority for either brush were identified. Although both toothbrushes effectively reduced mean plaque scores, ANOVA demonstrated no significant difference between toothbrushes.


CONCLUSIONS
The Curvex toothbrush is as effective as the Oral-B Indicator 40 toothbrush in removing plaque. Additionally, there was no evidence of any soft tissue abrasion from either brush.
Harpenau
Lisa
L
University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA, USA. lharpena@pacific.edu
Meyers
Greg
G
Lyon
Cindy
C
Chambers
David
D
Lundergan
William
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*