2013 Volume 56 Issue 4 Pages 277-284
Purpose: The shape of the head and bristles of manual toothbrushes affect the efficacy of plaque removal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plaque removal efficiency and usability of a dome-shaped bristled toothbrush, in comparison with a standard one. Methods: Twenty patients with chronic periodontitis (9 males and 11 females, mean age 59.1) and 20 volunteer dentists who had healthy periodontium (9 males and 11 females, mean age 28.1) at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry participated in the study. The subjects were asked not to perform oral hygiene for 24 hours before the experiment to allow plaque to accumulate. Dome-shaped or flat (standard) bristled toothbrushes were randomly given to the subjects with periodontitis and volunteer dentists respectively, and they were then asked to perform tooth brushing for 3 minutes. The levels of plaque present before and after brushing were recorded using the modified plaque control record developed by O'Leary, and the rate of plaque removal was calculated. Patients with periodontitis were given professional instruction on how to use the toothbrush, and two more examinations were performed, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks. Results: The plaque accumulation rate was significantly reduced after brushing with either the dome-shaped or flat bristled toothbrushes. Dentists who used the dome-shaped bristled toothbrush showed a higher rate of plaque removal compared to the other groups, though there was no significant difference (dentists who used dome-shaped toothbrush 62.4%, dentists who used flat-shaped toothbrush 48.7%, patients who used dome-shaped toothbrush 40.0 %, patients who used flat-shaped toothbrush 40.6%). Among the dentists, the dome-shaped bristled toothbrush showed significantly higher plaque removal efficiency, especially on the buccal sites of maxillomandibular anterior teeth and lingual sites of mandibular molars. Plaque removal rates of patients with periodontitis at each examination were 40.0%, 44.7%, and 45.9% in the dome-shaped bristled toothbrush group, and 40.6 %, 45.6%, and 41.2% in the flat bristled toothbrush group respectively, and there were no significant differences. From the results of a questionnaire using the Visual Analog Scale, patients showed a high level of satisfaction with using either the dome-shaped or flat bristled toothbrush. Conclusion: The dome-shaped bristled toothbrush showed as high plaque removal efficiency as the standard flat bristled toothbrush, and showed higher plaque removal efficiency for persons having knowledge of oral hygiene.
