title: Laboratory assessment of the Sensodyne Mikro Aktiv extra soft toothbrush and the Oral-B indicator soft toothbrush.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this laboratory study was to assess the Sensodyne Mikro Aktiv extra soft toothbrush, compared with the Oral-B Indicator soft toothbrush, for interproximal access efficacy (IAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Six toothbrushes of each product were tested four times, for a total of twenty-four tests on each toothbrush design. In the IAE assay, the tooth brushing technique involved independent evaluations of each toothbrush in a vertical or horizontal brushing motion, tooth shapes simulating anterior and posterior teeth, and a brushing weight of 250 g. The brushing apparatus was set to brush for 15 seconds at two strokes per second with a 50 mm stroke. All readings were measured with 3x magnification by a single investigator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IAE value on anterior tooth shapes, with vertical and horizontal brushing, was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for the Sensodyne Mikro Aktiv toothbrush than for the Oral-B Indicator toothbrush. When the IAE values were combined to give an overall brushing average, the Sensodyne Mikro Aktiv toothbrush was significantly (p < 0.001) higher compared to the Oral-B Indicator toothbrush.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Sensodyne Mikro Aktiv toothbrush has demonstrated superiority to the Oral-B Indicator toothbrush for access into interproximal areas using this laboratory methodology.
authors.affiliation: Waterview Consulting Chestertown, MD, USA. WaterviewConsult@aol.com
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Emling
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yankell
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smith