title: Frequency of mechanical removal of plaque as it relates to gingival inflammation: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This single blind, randomized clinical trial evaluated the relationship between frequency of mechanical removal of plaque (MRP) and gingival inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients (maximum 5% of sites with gingival bleeding and no history of periodontitis) were randomized to different frequencies of MRP: 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Plaque index (PlI) and gingival index (GI) were evaluated at baseline, 15 and 30 days. Intra- and inter-group differences were determined by repeated measures anova and mixed models anova, respectively, both followed by Tukey's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GI between baseline and 30 days remained statistically unchanged in the 12 h (0.51 ± 0.17 versus 0.63 ± 0.23, p = 0.137) and 24 h (0.43 ± 0.19 versus 0.59 ± 0.21, p = 0.052) groups, but increased significantly in the 48 h (0.48 ± 0.18 versus 0.84 ± 0.21, p = 0.001) and 72 h (0.55 ± 0.20 versus 0.94 ± 0.25, p = 0.000) groups. At 30 days, the average percentage of sites with GI scores of 1 and 2 was significantly higher in the 48 and 72 h than in the 12 and 24 h groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequencies of mechanical removal plaque up to 24 h may prevent an increase in the severity of gingival inflammation over a period of 30 days in patients with no history of periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, Dental School, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana M P
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Guilherme C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Danilo A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Karla Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Kantorski
authors.forename: Carlos H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000628:therapy*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices
keywords: dental plaque; gingivitis; periodontal diseases; toothbrushing