COMPLIANCE IN USE OF ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES

This study investigates the frequency of use of electric toothbrushes in relation to time of possession and social background variables. A q uestionnaire was sent to 129 patients who had acquired an electric too thbrush within 36 months. They were patients ac the Department of Clin ical Periodontology and at general dental clinics in Orebro. Response rare was 96%. The brush was used daily by 62%, whereas 3% had ceased t o use them. Frequency of use and encountered problems were related onl y for those who had had the brush for 3 years or more. Logistic regres sion on the frequency of use with the variables age, gender, marital s tatus, education, time of possession, and received instruction showed no associations except in two cases. For patients at general dental cl inics, only brush type, and for patients at the department, only encou ntered problems had explanatory value. The conclusion is that complian ce level was high and unrelated to social factors.