A study comparing the plaque removal efficacy of an advanced rotation-oscillation power toothbrush to a new sonic toothbrush.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, a new sonic power toothbrush has been marketed. The purpose of this study was to compare the plaque removal efficacy of a control rotation-oscillation power toothbrush (Oral-B Triumph) to this new sonic-powered toothbrush (Sonicare FlexCare) following a single brushing.


METHODS
This study was a randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, two-treatment, four-period crossover design, which examined plaque removal with the two toothbrushes following replicate single uses in 48 subjects. Plaque was scored before and after brushing using the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TMQHPI).


RESULTS
Baseline plaque scores were 2.87 for the sonic toothbrush and 2.85 for the rotation-oscillation toothbrush treatment groups. With respect to all surfaces examined, the sonic toothbrush delivered an adjusted (via Analysis of Covariance) mean difference between baseline and post-brushing plaque scores of 0.95, while the rotation-oscillation toothbrush delivered an adjusted mean difference of 1.06. The difference between treatment groups was statistically significant (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The rotation-oscillation toothbrush delivered superior plaque removal by reducing plaque scores, on average, 12.1% more than the new sonic toothbrush.
Williams
Karen
K
University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Rapley
Kathy
K
Huan
Jan
J
Walters
Pat
P
He
Tao
T
Grender
Julie
J
Biesbrock
Aaron R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use