Comparison of a double-textured prototype manual toothbrush with 3 brandedproducts - A professional brushing study

Background: The consensus has been that there is no one superior design of manual toothbrush for plaque removal, despite, in some cases. encouraging f indings from laboratory studies. The user appears the major variable and ma y mask differences in brush efficacy. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare 2 new double-filament texture br ushes with 3 established brands for plaque removal, under standardised cond itions of professional brushing. Method: The study was a blind, randomised crossover design, balanced for re sidual effects. A panel of 15 subjects suspended tooth cleaning for 3 days. On day ii. plaque was scored from 6 sites per tooth before and after a 2-m in professional toothbrushing. A washout period of at least 3 days was allo wed between study periods. Results: Overall plaque removal was 50% with no significant differences bet ween brushes, a 3% absolute difference in average total mouth plaque separa ting brushes. However, at upper- and mid-buccal sites, a not significant 8% and a significant 9% difference, respectively, in plaque removal were reco rded in Favour of one of the prototype brushes, and at the mid-lingual site , there was a nonsignificant 10% difference in favour of one branded brush. Other sites were cleaned similarly by all brushes except for reduced plaqu e removal from buccal compared to lingual surfaces and interproximal compar ed to mid-surface sites. Highly significant subject differences in plaque r emoval were noted which may be relevant to inherent anatomical difficulties in tooth cleaning for some individuals. Period effects were not significan t, supporting the consistency in brushing by the professional brusher. Conclusion: The method appeared capable of detecting small benefits of brus h design. However, the benefits reported must be taken within the context o f an overall lack of difference between brushes. The method could be used r o set and record a minimum level of efficacy for toothbrushes.