Oscillating/rotating electric toothbrushes compared: plaque removal and gingival abrasion

Objectives: This study was designed to test the efficacy in plaque removal and the potential for gingival abrasion of 3 electric toothbrushes. The est ablished Braun Oral-B 'Ultra' plaque remover (D9), the Philips/Jordan HP 73 5, and the newly designed Braun Oral-B 3D Plaque Remover (3D). Material and Methods: This study was designed as a split-mouth, single blin d, randomised clinical study consisting of 3 identical experiments with 3 c ombinations of toothbrushes (exp 1:3D-HP735, exp 2:D9-HP735, exp 3:D9-3D). 40 subjects were requested not to brush their teeth 48 h prior to each exam ination. At this visit, both the gums and teeth were disclosed for the asse ssment of baseline plaque and gingival abrasion. Abrasion sites were scored as small (less than or equal to5 mm) or large sites (>5 mm). Plaque was as sessed according to the Quigley & Hein index at 6 sites per tooth. The part icipants brushed 60 s with the 2 brushes, each brush in 2 randomly selected contra-lateral quadrants. Results: The increase in number of small abrasions after brushing (exp. 1) was 1.2 versus 1.7 for 3D and HP735, respectively (ns); In exp. 2 the incre ase was 0.9 for both D9 and HP735. In exp. 3 the increase was 0.4 sites for both D9 and 3D. Comparison of the 3D and HP735 showed a mean plaque reduct ion of 67% and 54%, respectively (p <0.05); when the D9 and HP735 were comp ared, a mean plaque reduction of 70% and 58%, respectively, was found (p <0 .05); a mean plaque reduction of 74% was found in the comparison of D9 and 3D. Conclusion: The results show that the potential gingival abrasion after bru shing is comparable for ah 3 electric toothbrushes. In addition the longer the subjects used the brushes the less abrasion occurred. Finally both 3D a nd D9 were more effective than the HP735 in removing plaque.