A clinical evaluation of a novel data logger to determine compliance with the use of powered toothbrushes

Clinical evaluation of brushing time and plaque removal potential of two manual toothbrushes

AIM

To compare plaque removal efficacy of Oral-B CrossAction (CA) used for 1 min with an American Dental Association (ADA) manual toothbrush used for 2 or 5 min in an examiner-blind, three-treatment, six-period crossover study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After refraining from all oral hygiene procedures for 23-25 h, subjects were randomly assigned to one of nine possible six-period (visit) treatment sequences. Plaque was assessed at baseline (Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index). Post-brushing scores were recorded after brushing with a marketed dentifrice and the assigned toothbrush for the specified duration. The same procedure was followed at each of six subsequent visits. Clinical measurements were carried out by the same examiner.

RESULTS

Forty subjects completed the study. All three treatments effectively removed plaque from the whole mouth, along the gingival margin and from approximal surfaces. Whole mouth and gingival margin plaque removal scores with CA for 1 min did not differ significantly from scores with the ADA toothbrush used for 2 min. The ADA brush used for 5 min showed significantly greater whole mouth (P < 0.001) and gingival margin (P < 0.001) plaque reduction than the two other treatments. Approximal plaque removal scores did not differ between the three treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Efficient plaque removal can be achieved after 1 min of brushing with CA. The amount of plaque removed did not differ significantly from that achieved with the ADA brush after 2 min of brushing. Greater whole mouth and gingival margin plaque removal scores were seen with the ADA brush after 5 min.

Prevention of periodontal diseases

The ultimate goal of periodontal disease prevention is to maintain the dentition over a lifetime in a state of health, comfort, and function in an aesthetically pleasing presentation. This article focuses on primary and secondary periodontal disease prevention as they relate to gingivitis and periodontitis. Risk assessment, mechanical plaque control, chemical plaque control, current clinical recommendations for optimal prevention, and future preventive strategies are discussed.

The anti-plaque efficacy of a chlorhexidine mouthrinse used in combination with toothbrushing with dentifrice

BACKGROUND

Although the efficacy of chlorhexidine (CHX) chemically can be affected by the presence of a sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-containing dentifrice in the oral cavity, previous data, collected without supervision, showed that the level of plaque inhibition offered by a 0.2% CHX post-brushing rinse in one jaw is not reduced under the influence of toothbrushing with a 1.5% SLS-containing dentifrice in the opposite jaw.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to investigate, during a 4-day supervised study period, the anti-plaque efficacy of a 0.2% CHX pre-brushing rinse in one jaw, under the influence of toothbrushing in the opposite jaw, either with a SLS-containing dentifrice or with a SLS-free dentifrice. Three different dentifrices were tested. Two of them contained SLS (Colgate Total & Aquafresh Natural Whitening), the other (Zendium) did not.

METHODS

The study was an examiner blind, randomised 4-cell, crossover design. It used a 4-day plaque accumulation model to compare under supervision 4 different oral hygiene regimens with a washout period of at least one week. Thirty-five healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study and were randomly assigned to a sequence according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. At the beginning of each 4-day test period, they received a thorough dental prophylaxis. Plaque was scored in one randomly assigned (upper or lower) jaw, called the study jaw. At the end of the 4-day period the study jaw was used to study the effect of the four regimens on the level of plaque accumulation. The opposite jaw was assigned as the dentifrice jaw and served only to introduce the effect of brushing with a dentifrice in the study model. Four oral hygiene regimens were designed. During the randomly assigned test periods, rinsing with 0.2% CHX and then brushing the dentifrice jaw was performed twice daily. In regimen 1, 2, and 3 the subjects used a dentifrice in the assigned dentifrice jaw being either a dentifrice with SLS (Colgate Total and Aquafresh Natural Whitening) or a SLS-free dentifrice (Zendium). Regimen 4 served as a control during witch subjects only rinsed with 0.2% CHX. No other oral hygiene methods were allowed. After 4 days of undisturbed plaque accumulation, the amount of plaque was evaluated (Lobene et al. 1982, Quigley & Hein 1962, Turesky et al. 1970 modifications).

RESULTS

The overall plaque index for regimen 1, 2 and 3 was, respectively, 1.8, 1.8 and 1.9. For regimen 4, the overall plaque index was 1.9. There was no significant difference in plaque accumulation between the four regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the present study design, it can be concluded that the anti-plaque efficacy of a pre-brushing 0.2% CHX mouthrinse does not seem to be reduced under the influence of a normal toothbrushing exercise with a dentifrice after rinsing, whether the dentifrice contains SLS or not.