Comparison of the clinical effects and gingival abrasion aspects of manualand electric toothbrushes

Aims: The clinical effects and gingival abrasion aspects of 2 electrical to othbrushes (Braun Oral-B Plak Control Ultra and the novel development Braun OraI-B Plak Control 3D) were to be compared with conventional manual tooth brushing. Material and Methods: In a cross-over study, 26 dental student volunteers p articipated and were assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Following instruction in th e use of the electric as well as manual toothbrushes, the volunteers were t imed for 2 min each day to apply one electric or the manual toothbrush, res pectively, during 3 experimental phases of 2 weeks. No other methods of too th cleaning were to be performed except the one specified for the respectiv e test period. When brushing manually, the Bass toothbrushing technique was applied. Between each test period, a recovery period of 1 week was allowed during which no oral hygiene was performed at all. At the start and the en d of each of the experimental periods, the extension of plaque deposits fro m the gingival margin in coronal direction was assessed using the Turesky e t al. modification of the Quigley and Hein plaque index. Presence or absenc e of gingival inflammation was evaluated by bleeding and probing (BOP). The extent and severity of gingival abrasions were assessed by use of a modifi ed method of Breitenmoser et al. and adapted by Danser et al. Results: The plaque-reducing effect was similar in all groups with the same cleaning regime. For that reason, the result of the different experimental phases with the respective cleaning modalities were collapsed. Cleaning wi th the Braun Oral-B Plak Control Ultra electric toothbrush resulted consist ently in the lowest plaque scores when compared to both the Braun Oral-B Pl ak Control 3D and the manual toothbrush. Although the differences in plaque reduction were statistically significant between cleaning with Braun Oral- B Plak Control Ultra and 3D, they were small and of questionable clinical r elevance. No significant differences in plaque reductions were found betwee n manual brushing and any of the 2 electric brushes. Gingival abrasions wer e least pronounced following brushing with the Braun Oral-B Plak Control 3D electric toothbrush. However, no significant differences in gingival abras ion were encountered following brushing with the Braun Oral-B Plak Control Ultra electric in comparison with the manual toothbrush. Conclusions: The results of the present study have shown that in a group of dental students trained in manual brushing technique, where efficacy was s imilar with the 3 toothbrushes tested, there is no evidence of greater ging ival abrasion with either Braun Oral-B Plak Control Ultra or 3D when compar ed with a manual brush.