Comparison of rotation/oscillation and sonic power toothbrushes on plaque and gingivitis for 10 weeks

• Published in: American journal of dentistry Vol. 22; no. 6; p. 345
• Main Authors: Williams, Karen, Rapley, Kathy, Haun, Jan, Walters, Pat, He, Tao, Grender, Julie, Biesbrock, Aaron R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Coloring Agents; Dental Plaque - prevention & control; Dental Plaque Index; Equipment Design; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gingival Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Gingivitis - prevention & control; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontal Index; Rotation; Safety; Single-Blind Method; Toothbrushing - instrumentation; Treatment Outcome; Vibration; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0894-8275

Although power toothbrushes provide valuable tools toward improving oral health, contrasting results are discerned in their efficiency. This 10-week study was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy of rotation/oscillation and sonic power toothbrushes in the reduction of plaque and gingivitis. This two-treatment, parallel group, examiner-blind, randomized study had the subjects brush twice daily at home with their assigned rotation/oscillation or sonic toothbrush following manufacturer's instructions with center visits at baseline, and at 4 and 10 weeks following the baseline visit, for assessment of oral safety (all visits), plaque (baseline, Weeks 4 and 10), and gingivitis (baseline and Week 10). Gingivitis and number of bleeding sites were measured using the Löe-Silness Gingivitis Index, and plaque was measured using the Turesky Modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index. At Week 10, 171 subjects were evaluable for plaque assessment (85 in Sonic group, 86 in rotation/oscillation group) and 165 subjects were evaluable for gingivitis and bleeding sites assessment (84 in sonic group, 81 in rotation/oscillation group). The rotation/oscillation group had statistically significantly lower gingivitis scores (by 3.5%) and statistically significantly fewer bleeding sites than the sonic group (by 16.1%) with P = 0.038 and 0.028, respectively, at Week 10. Compared to baseline, only the rotation/oscillation group showed a statistically significant improvement in gingivitis (P = 0.003) and bleeding (P < 0.001) at Week 10. At both Weeks 4 and 10, the rotation/oscillation group had directionally lower plaque scores than the sonic group (by approximately 3%), but treatment group differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.1) at either time point. Both groups showed statistically significantly lower plaque scores at Weeks 4 and 10 relative to baseline.