EFFECT OF ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHES VERSUS MANUAL TOOTHBRUSHES ON REMOVALOF PLAQUE AND PERIODONTAL STATUS DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

This study compared the effectiveness of three different types of elec tric toothbrushes, i.e., Interplak, Philips, and Rotadent, with a manu al multitufted toothbrush (Blend-a-Med), in removing supragingival pla que and in preventing the development of gingivitis in adolescent pati ents with fixed orthodontic appliances. A single blind, cross-over, cl inical trial was carried out in 36 adolescent patients, randomly divid ed into four equal groups. Every group tested each type of toothbrush, in a different sequence. Plaque and gingival scores were recorded at baseline and after 1 and 2 months of the test period. All patients rec eived a professional prophylaxis after each clinical evaluation, excep t during the test period. The analysis of the data was performed with the nonparametric Friedman test. The results demonstrated, in essence, for all parameters that the manual toothbrush was the most effective. Of the three electric toothbrushes tested, the Philips toothbrush see med to give slightly better results than the Interplak toothbrush, whe reas Rotadent very clearly gave results inferior to all others. Person al preference on the four toothbrushes used revealed that the group as a whole least preferred a manual brush. However, the answers on the q uestionnaire did not always show a logical consistency. Therefore it s hould be interpreted with some caution.