title: Comparison of Three types of Tooth Brushes on Plaque and Gingival Indices: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical results of three types of manual tooth brushes on plaque removal efficacy and gingivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a single blind randomized trial with crossover design which involved 30 periodontaly healthy individuals. Professional plaque removal and oral hygiene instruction were performed for all the participants in the first step of our study followed by asking them to avoid brushing for 2 days. Thereafter plaque and gingivitis scores were measured using plaque and gingival indices (PI and GI). Then subjects were instructed to use Pulsar tooth brush for a two-week period and then, GI and PI indices were assessed again. After passing one-week period for wash out, subjects didn't brush for 2 days and indices were recorded again. The same procedure was done for CrossAction, and Butler 411 tooth brushes respectively and at the end of the study these variables were analyzed using SPSS software ver.16. Repeated measurement ANOVA test was used to compare the scores between different brushes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Finding of this study reveals that using all three types of tooth brushes resulted in significant plaque and gingivitis reduction compared to baseline levels. Pulsar tooth brush was significantly more effective in diminishing PI and GI than Butler tooth brush (p=0.044 and 0.031 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our findings all 3 types of tooth brushes are effective in reduction of plaque and gingivitis and this reduction is significantly greater for Pulsar tooth brush compared to Butler and CrossAction tooth brushes.
authors.affiliation: Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moeintaghavi
authors.affiliation: Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sargolzaie
authors.affiliation: Qom Dental School, Qom University of Medical Sciences - Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrnoosh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostampour
authors.affiliation: Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarvari
authors.affiliation: Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Sanaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kargozar
authors.affiliation: Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Shideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gharaei
keywords: Butler; CrossAction; Dental plaque index; Gingivitis; Pulsar; Tooth brushing