title: Assessment of the efficacy of the utilisation of conventional and electric toothbrushes by the older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of electric and conventional toothbrushes for a group of elderly individuals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although the electric toothbrush has been recommended for elderly individuals, there had previously never been a study regarding its efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty independent elders of both genders with different oral conditions from the Center Adult Day Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, were randomly divided into two groups of 30 individuals. One group received the Oral B CrossAction Power electric toothbrush, whereas the other received a conventional Bitufo Class 32 soft toothbrush to perform oral hygiene. The bacterial plaque index (O'Leary Plaque Index) and DMFT index were assessed as a measure of oral hygiene and oral health. The data were analysed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the efficacy of the Oral B Cross Action Power electric toothbrush demonstrated that on the 7th and 15th days, the bacterial plaque indexes were 24.91 ± 12.81 and 22.11 ± 14.46, respectively, which corresponds to a 50.24% removal of bacterial plaque on the 7th and 55.83% on the 15th days. Although the electric toothbrush removed more bacterial plaque than the conventional toothbrush, the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the conventional and the electric toothbrushes were effective in removing bacterial plaque within the elderly group. More studies are necessary to test the efficacy of electric toothbrushes in relation to conventional toothbrushes for elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Espirito Santo, Centro Biomédico, Avenida Marechal Campos, 1468, Maruipe, CEP 29043-900, Vitoeria, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cristiane V C
authors.initials: CVC
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Espirito Santo, Centro Biomédico, Avenida Marechal Campos, 1468, Maruipe, CEP 29043-900, Vitoeria, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana M M
authors.initials: AMM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Espirito Santo, Centro Biomédico, Avenida Marechal Campos, 1468, Maruipe, CEP 29043-900, Vitoeria, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana P M
authors.initials: APM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Espirito Santo, Centro Biomédico, Avenida Marechal Campos, 1468, Maruipe, CEP 29043-900, Vitoeria, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Antonio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Espirito Santo, Centro Biomédico, Avenida Marechal Campos, 1468, Maruipe, CEP 29043-900, Vitoeria, ES, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana P C
authors.initials: APC
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003773:Dental Plaque; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014099:Toothbrushing
keywords: geriatric dentistry; oral health; oral hygiene; tooth brushing