title: Comparison of manual toothbrushes with different bristle designs in terms of cleaning efficacy and potential role on gingival recession.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to compare the efficacy of plaque control and potential effects on gingival recession of the toothbrushes with angled and straight bristles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 healthy dental students (25 females and 15 males; age range: 23-25 years) participated and two study groups were constituted. Participants were randomly distributed into two groups to use either angled or standard design manual tooth brushes with soft bristles. Oral hygiene indicators and soft tissue levels were monitored for 6 months. Plaque index, gingival index (GI), probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing were measured at six sites. Vertical recession (VR) and horizontal recession (HR) were also recorded. All measurements were repeated at 3 and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plaque scores were reduced significantly at 6 months compared to baseline in both groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005 in criss-cross and standard design brushes, respectively). Mean GI scores of the criss-cross design were reduced significantly at 6 months (P < 0.05). Inter-group comparisons revealed that gingival recession (GR) values were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) at baseline, 3 and 6 months suggesting no pronounced impact of bristle design in terms of GR (VR = 0.596, HR = 0.572; VR = 0.884, HR = 0.572; VR = 0.884, HR = 0.572 in the groups).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bristle design has little impact on plaque removal capacity of a toothbrush. Both designs are safe enough to prevent GR as long as soft bristle material is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cifcibasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Istanbul Aydin, Istanbul, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Cenker Zeki
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Koyuncuoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Ulku
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baser
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Armadent Dental Clinic, Istanbul, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Busra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bozacioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Kamber
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasali
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cintan
keywords: Bristle design; gingival margin; gingival recession; oral hygiene; plaque removal; randomized controlled trial; tooth brush