title: The effect of toothbrush design on the ability of nurses to brush the teeth of institutionalized cerebral palsy patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of two toothbrush designs in tooth brushing by nurses of individuals with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following instruction, nurses brushed the teeth of 21 individuals with a single-headed-toothbrush, and 22 with a triple-headed-toothbrush. After one month, the nurses brushed their patients with the other toothbrush, following instruction. Tooth brushing performance skill was evaluated and scored using the TB-PS-I/Ashkenazi index following the first brushing as well as on a recall visit one month later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 1 month, 7.6% of the nurses required further instruction following brushing with the triple-headed toothbrush compared to 15% after brushing with the single-headed. Reductions in plaque and gingival indices were greater after using the triple- headed than single-headed toothbrush. More nurses preferred the triple-headed toothbrush (75.5% compared to 22.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brushing by nurses of cerebral palsy patients was more effective and instruction better retained with a triple-headed compared to single-headed toothbrush.
authors.affiliation: The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Moran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yitzhak
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarnat
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rakocz
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaish
authors.forename: Malka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000145:classification / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education / Q000451:nursing*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult