title: Tapered toothbrush filaments in relation to gingival abrasion, removal of plaque and treatment of gingivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a tapered filament toothbrush (TFTB) to a control toothbrush (ADA) in their potential to cause gingival abrasion and improve the gingival condition following a period of experimental gingivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two subjects refrained from brushing mandibular teeth for 21 days. During a subsequent 4-week treatment phase, the left or right side of the mouth was brushed with either the TFTB or ADA as randomly allocated. Gingival abrasion, plaque and gingival bleeding were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the treatment phase gingival abrasion showed a trend to be lower with the TFTB than the ADA, which was significant at the 2-week assessment. The mean plaque scores changed from 2.98 (day 21) to 1.59 for the TFTB and from 3.00 (day 21) to 1.31 for the ADA. The mean bleeding scores changed from 1.86 (day 21) to 1.35 for the TFTB and from 1.85 (day 21) to 1.20 for the ADA. Plaque and bleeding scores were significantly lower with the ADA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both toothbrushes improved gingival health and effectively removed plaque. Although there was a tendency towards fewer sites with gingival abrasion with the TFTB brush, it was less effective than the ADA in the removal of plaque biofilm and reduction of bleeding. Subjects considered the TFTB to be more pleasant to use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.versteeg@acta.nl
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Versteeg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piscaer
authors.forename: N A M
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rosema
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Timmerman
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Van der Velden
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Van der Weijden