4-MONTH ASSESSMENT OF THE DENTRUST AND ORAL-B P35 TOOTHBRUSHES IN ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS

The efficacy and safety of two manual toothbrushes (Dentrust(R) and th e Oral-B(R) P35) were evaluated in orthodontic patients classified by their treating orthodontist as having established gingivitis. Fifty-se ven healthy adolescent subjects, who were fully bonded and banded with fixed orthodontic appliances, were randomly assigned to use one of th e two toothbrushes for the duration of the four-month study. The subje cts were given instructions with their new assigned toothbrush and agr eed to use only these products at home, twice a day between orthodonti c visits. On evaluation days at one, two and four months the patients reported to the clinic having not brushed for 12-16 hours, and were ev aluated for plaque area and gingivitis in this single blind study. Gin givitis scores decreased significantly in the Dentrust group from base line to the conclusion of the study. There was no significant statisti cal decline in gingivitis in the Oral-B P35 group until the four-month evaluation. Overnight plaque formation scores were similar for both g roups during the study. After brushing for a timed one-minute period, both toothbrushes removed significant plaque area throughout the study . On total plaque levels, the Dentrust group was significantly lower o n after-toothbrushing plaque area mean scores compared to the Oral-B P 35 group at two and four months. No side effects were reported or obse rved during the study attributed to the use of the assigned toothbrush es.