1995 Volume 45 Issue 2 Pages 215-223
Plaque removal efficacy of toothbrushes of various shapes was evaluated. Although many studies on adult toothbrushes have been reported, there are few on children's toothbrushes. In this study, plaque removal efficacy of a newly designed toothbrush (PC toothbrush) having a straight handle, a compact head and a slim neck for mixed dentition, designed so as to enhance its handling in the oral cavity, was compared with an angled neck toothbrush on the market (R toothbrush). Fifty school children, 7 to 12 years old, 17 males and 33 females, were assigned one of the test brushes. They were instructed to brush their teeth by the scrubbing method. Plaque scores were measured before and after a single brushing. The results showed that the PC toothbrush was significantly more effective overall (p<0.01) than the R toothbrush for removing plaque. The PC toothbrush removed significantly (p<0.01) more plaque than the R toothbrush on the first molars and on the lingual and distal surfaces. The PC toothbrush was also significantly more effective (p<0.01) than the R toothbrush on the central incisors. This suggests that the PC toothbrush is superior for use on mixed dentition. It also suggests that a straight-handled toothbrush is suitable for children at various stages of growth and dexterity of hand and arm.
