title: Effect of self-performed mechanical plaque control frequency on gingival inflammation revisited: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of self-performed mechanical plaque control (SPC) frequency on gingival health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine subjects exhibiting limited gingival inflammation and minimal clinical attachment loss were enrolled in a single-blind, parallel group, randomized clinical trial. The subjects that were divided into three groups were tasked to perform SPC (using tooth brush and dental floss) at 12, 24 or 48 h intervals. Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PlI), and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume were evaluated at baseline and 30 days follow-up. Groups were compared using anova and Tukey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in mean GI change were observed between the 12 and 24 h SPC intervals from baseline to 30 days (-0.06 ± 0.13 versus 0.05 ± 0.09; p = 0.11). In contrast, the 48 h interval had significantly higher mean GI change than the 12 and 24 h intervals (0.33 ± 0.17; p = 0.001). Similarly, mean PlI change was not significantly different between the 12 and 24 h SPC intervals (0.11 versus 0.28; p = 0.15), whereas SPC at 48 h-intervals yielded a significantly increased PlI (0.39; p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-performed mechanical plaque control performed at 12 h or 24 h intervals appears sufficient to maintain gingival health in subjects with no or limited clinical attachment loss.
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Camponogara
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Militz Perrone
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Pascotini
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Grellmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danilo Antonio Milbradt
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Dental Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Susin
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karla Zanini
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Kantorski
authors.affiliation: Division of Periodontology, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Heitor Cunha
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D003773:Dental Plaque; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid; D005891:Gingivitis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dental plaque; gingivitis; oral hygiene; periodontal diseases