Three-month assessment of safety and efficacy of two electric toothbrushes

• Published in: Journal of dentistry Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Cronin, M.J., Dembling, W.Z., Cugini, M.A., Thompson, M.C., Warren, P.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2005; The Lancet Publishing Group, a division of Elsevier Science Ltd; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Care and treatment; Comparative analysis; Dental plaque; Dental Plaque - therapy; Dentistry; Electric toothbrush; Electricity; Epidemiologic Methods; Equipment Safety; Female; Gingival bleeding; Gingivitis; Gingivitis - therapy; Gum diseases; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Plaque removal; Safety; Safety and security measures; Time Factors; Toothbrushes; Toothbrushing - instrumentation; United Kingdom; Electric toothbrush; Plaque removal; Safety; Gingival bleeding; Gingivitis
• ISSN: 0300-5712; 1879-176X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0300-5712(05)80004-1

This randomised, examiner-blind parallel group study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a rechargeable oscillating/pulsating toothbrush (Oral-B ProfessionalCare™ 7000, Oral-B Laboratories; PC 7000) and a battery-operated toothbrush (Crest® SpinBrush™ Pro, Procter & Gamble Company; SBP) in the reduction of gingivitis, bleeding and plaque over a 3-month period. After 12–18 hours of no oral hygiene, subjects had oral tissue examinations, and gingival and plaque assessments to determine eligibility in the study. Subjects were stratified and randomised into treatment groups based on initial whole mouth mean plaque (Turesky modification of Quigley Hein Plaque Index) and gingivitis (Löe & Silness Gingival Index) scores and gender. Subjects were instructed to brush twice daily with their assigned toothpaste and toothbrush. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, and after 1 and 3 months of use. Within treatment comparisons from baseline were analysed using t-test; between treatment comparisons were analysed using ANOVA. Data were obtained from 92 subjects (PC 7000 n=45; SBP n=47). No significant differences were found in baseline plaque, gingivitis and bleeding between groups. Both treatment groups had significant reductions from baseline in plaque, gingivitis and bleeding scores. PC 7000 demonstrated significantly greater reductions compared to SBP in whole mouth plaque at 1 month: 0.39±0.43 vs. 0.16±0.42 and 3 months: 0.32±0.48 vs. 0.04±0.41. PC 7000 also demonstrated significant reductions compared to SBP in gingivitis at 3 months for whole mouth: 0.14±0.09 vs. 0.10±0.10 and approximal areas: 0.11±0.08 vs. 0.08±0.09. There were no significant differences between toothbrushes in bleeding at either time point. Safety examinations revealed no apparent difference in soft and hard tissue abnormalities between groups. The PC 7000 toothbrush demonstrated significantly greater reductions in plaque and gingivitis compared to the SPB over a 3-month period.