Abstract
This study was carried out to compare the effects in open interproximal areas on the plaque-removing ability of 1) toothbrushing plus the use of the interdental brush (Denticator Co.), and 2) toothbrushing plus the unwaxed dental floss (Gudebrod Bros. Silk Co.). Ten adults, without prosthetic restorations within or adjacent to the test areas and abnormal arrangement of the teeth, were devided into two groups.
The participants performed either interdental cleaning procedure alternately at one week interval. The test teeth were consisting of first molars, lateral incisors and were in contact normally with neighbouring teeth and had open interdental spaces. The bucco-menial surfaces of the test teeth were estimated.
The toothbrushing alone by modified Stillman's method removed 58% of interproximal plaque deposited at test areas, however notciable reduction of dental plaque were achieved by additional use of interdental cleaning devices (interdental brush 95%, dental floss 86%). There was no statistically significant difference between two.
It has been concluded that it is difficult to clean the interproximal areas only using the toothbrush, and that the use of interdental brusn is effective for the interdental cleaning in open interproximal areas.
