EFFECTIVENESS OF A SONIC TOOTHBRUSH IN MAINTENANCE OF DENTAL IMPLANTS- A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

This study assessed the efficacy of a sonic and a manual toothbrush in reducing plaque and gingivitis around dental implants. Subjects were randomly assigned to either sonic (n=16) or manual(n=15) study groups. Groups were balanced according to baseline levels of plaque and gingi vitis. The plaque (PI), gingival (GI), and bleeding CBI) indices as we ll as probing depths were determined at baseline, and at 4, 8, 12, and 24 week follow-up visits. Mean scores per person were calculated for each clinical parameter. Oral hygiene habits, compliance and acceptanc e were also evaluated over the study period. Within group comparisons from baseline throughout the study, as well as between group compariso ns (i.e., sonic versus manual), were determined. Overall, plaque, ging ival, and bleeding indices in both groups were lower at each follow-up visit when compared to the baseline. Within group comparisons demonst rated that both the sonic toothbrush subjects and the manual toothbrus h subjects had significantly lower PI, GI, and BI scores at each post- baseline visit (4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks) than at baseline (p<0.005). In addition, the sonic toothbrush subjects also had significantly lower probing depths at each post-baseline visit than at baseline (p<0.005). Between group comparisons demonstrated that the sonic toothbrush subj ects over time had significantly lower PI and BI scores around dental implants than the manual toothbrush subjects (Repeated measures MANOVA ; PI, p=0.01; BI, p= 0.017). The sonic toothbrush subjects had lower G I scores and reduced probing depths over time when compared to manual toothbrush subjects but these scores were not statistically significan t (GI; probing depth, p>0.05). No implant problems (e.g., loose screws ) were attributable to the sonic toothbrush. Relevant to oral hygiene habits, subjects in both groups demonstrated a high level of complianc e with their assigned toothbrush. Overall, the results of this study d emonstrated that sonic toothbrushing significantly reduced plaque, gin gival inflammation and bleeding, and probing pocket depths around impl ants over the 6-month trial period. It is concluded that sonic brushin g is an effective means of dental implant maintenance.