1997 Volume 39 Issue 3 Pages 355-360
Previously, we reported that the electric tooth-brush is as effective as the manual toothbrush in improving the periodontal condition of patients when used for a short period. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of electric and manual toothbrushes on various clinical parameters of patients receiving initial treatment and mainte-nance therapy for two years. Twenty-three patients received tooth brushing instructions for using INTERPLAK™ (IP, BAUSCH & LOMB, USA) followed by initial treatment and mainte-nance therapy. The patients used IP 2t home dur-ing the intial treatment and 24 months of mantenan-ce therapy. Fourteen patients who were instructed in plaque control using a manual toothbrush and received initial treatment and maintenance therapy served as a control group. They used manual toothbrushes at home during the initial treatment and maintenance therapy. Clinical assessments (plaque control record, probing depth, bleeding on probing) were made before and after the initial treatment and affer 6, 12 and 24 months of the manitenance therapy. Clinical conditions were im-proved significantly by the initial treatment and the good conditions remained during 24 months of maintenance therapy. These results were compa-rable with those for patients using manual tooth-brushes. It is suggested that an electric toothbrush is as effective as a manual toothbrush for self care of the patients receiving initial treatment and maintenance therapy.
