Abstract
Eighty children aged from six to nine years-old who visited our Pedodontics Department on an outpatient basis served as subjects. The effectiveness of finish brushing performed by parents using the electric toothbrush was investigated. According to the eruption stage classification system established by Araki, the first permanent molars were classified with respect to the degree of eruption, and the differences between the effectiveness of brushing by the children themselves and that of finish brushing by parents were compared and analyzed in each stage using three types of electric toothbrush. In addition, a survey was conducted on finish brushing and the usability and operability of electric toothbrushes.
The following results were obtained.
1. When children brushed their teeth by themselves: Compared to manual brushing, the effectiveness of brushing was higher with reverse and combination type toothbrushes in stage 1 teeth, and with all types of electric toothbrush in stage 2 and 3 teeth. Significant differences were also found between manual brushing and reverse or combination types in stage 1 teeth, and between manual brushing and all types of electric toothbrushes in stages 2 and 3 teeth.
2. When finish brushing was performed by parents: Compared to first permanent molars with a low degree of eruption that were brushed by the children by themselves, higher cleaning effects were obtained with all types of electric toothbrushes, and significant differences were found between manual brushing and vibration or combination types in stage 1 teeth.
