In vitro-cleaning efficacy of interdental brushes with different stiffness and different diameter.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cleaning efficacy of interdental brushes with different stiffnesses, e.g. soft and hard interdental brushes with identical brush diameter.


METHODS
Cylindrical soft and hard interdental brushes with diameters of 2,3 and 5 mm each were tested. Sixteen extracted human molars were fixed in split cast models to simulate eight interdental spaces. After coating the teeth with a dye to simulate plaque, digital photographs were taken from the proximal surfaces in a highly standardised set-up. The teeth were repositioned and the proximal surfaces were cleaned in a standardised manner. Post-brushing digital photographs were taken as before. After digital subtraction, the cleaned area was measured by pixel count and the relative cleaning efficacy was calculated.


RESULTS
The cleaning efficacy values of soft and hard interdental brushes of corresponding size in extra-small, small, medium and large interdental spaces as well as overall showed no statistically significant difference. In small, medium and large interdental spaces, increasing brush diameters resulted in higher cleaning efficacy; these differences were statistically significant. Irregular values were seen in extra-small interdental spaces.


CONCLUSIONS
Both hard and soft interdental brushes cleaned the proximal tooth surfaces effectively. The filament stiffness had no statistically significant influence on the cleaning efficacy.
Wolff
Diana
D
University of Heidelberg Medical School, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Diana.Wolff@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Joerss
Daniela
D
Dörfer
C E
CE
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D023861:Photography, Dental; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*