title: A clinical trial testing the efficacy of an ionic toothbrush for reducing plaque and gingivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to assess the efficacy of an ionic toothbrush on reducing plaque and gingivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty first-year dental students were included in the study. Ten individuals were randomly assigned to use either an ionic or a conventional toothbrush. Two periods of 28 days each were used with each brush, with a wash-out period of 14 days. A calibrated examiner used the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (QHI) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) on six sites per tooth, on all teeth, both pre- and post-brushing. The examiner was unaware of the toothbrush used by the subjects. Means were calculated, and for intra and inter-group comparisons a paired sample t-test was used (alpha = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On buccal-lingual surfaces, both toothbrushes significantly reduced plaque; there was no statistically significant difference between the two toothbrushes (1.56 and 1.52 for ionic and conventional toothbrushes, respectively). In interdental spaces, an increase of QHI was detected for both brushes, but without significant differences between them. For the GBI on buccal/lingual surfaces, no significant differences were detected between toothbrushes. The GBI did not significantly change for either toothbrush on interdental surfaces during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ionic and the conventional toothbrushes did not present statistically significant differences on plaque and gingival bleeding reductions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Heitor Cunha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Patrícia Blaya
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: Eduardo Aydos
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Villarinho
authors.forename: Luciano Costa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weidlich
authors.forename: Cassiano Kuchenbecker
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rösing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions