Efficacy of a U-Shaped Automatic Electric Toothbrush in Dental Plaque Removal: A Cross-Over Randomized Controlled Trial

Nieri, Michele; Giuntini, Veronica; Pagliaro, Umberto; Giani, Monica; Franchi, Lorenzo; Franceschi, Debora

doi:10.3390/ijerph17134649

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Efficacy of a U-Shaped Automatic Electric Toothbrush in Dental Plaque Removal: A Cross-Over Randomized Controlled Trial

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Debora Franceschi

Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Orthodontics, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50127 Firenze, Italy

School of Dentistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50127 Firenze, Italy

Private Practice, Campi Bisenzio, 50013 Firenze, Italy

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Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(13), 4649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134649

Received: 9 June 2020 / Revised: 23 June 2020 / Accepted: 24 June 2020 / Published: 28 June 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dental Public Health: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities)

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this single-use, four-treatment, four-period (visit), cross-over, mono-centered, examiner-blind, cross-over randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy in dental plaque removal of a U-shaped automatic electric toothbrush (U) compared to a conventional powered toothbrush (P), a habitual toothbrushing procedure (H), and no brushing (N). Methods: Eligible participants were volunteer students. Primary outcome measure was the reduction in full-mouth plaque score (FMPS) after brushing. The secondary outcome variable was a visual analogic scale (VAS) on subjective clean mouth sensation. Mixed models were performed for difference in FMPS and VAS. Results: Twenty-two participants were randomized to the treatments in the four periods of the study. The differences between treatments in FMPS reduction after brushing were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The differences were statistically significant between the U and P groups (difference −48; 95% CI from −54 to −41) favoring the P group, and between the U and H groups (difference −45; 95% CI from −52 to −39) favoring the H group. On the contrary, the difference between the U and N groups was not significant (difference 5; 95% CI from −2 to 12) favoring the U group. The differences between treatments in clean mouth VAS was statistically significant (p < 0.0001) favoring the P and H groups. Conclusions: The U-shaped automatic electric toothbrush tested in this study proved to be not effective in removing dental plaque. View Full-Text

Keywords: dental plaque; powered toothbrush; randomized controlled trial; oral hygiene

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Nieri, M.; Giuntini, V.; Pagliaro, U.; Giani, M.; Franchi, L.; Franceschi, D. Efficacy of a U-Shaped Automatic Electric Toothbrush in Dental Plaque Removal: A Cross-Over Randomized Controlled Trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 4649. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134649

AMA Style

Nieri M, Giuntini V, Pagliaro U, Giani M, Franchi L, Franceschi D. Efficacy of a U-Shaped Automatic Electric Toothbrush in Dental Plaque Removal: A Cross-Over Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(13):4649. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134649

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nieri, Michele, Veronica Giuntini, Umberto Pagliaro, Monica Giani, Lorenzo Franchi, and Debora Franceschi. 2020. "Efficacy of a U-Shaped Automatic Electric Toothbrush in Dental Plaque Removal: A Cross-Over Randomized Controlled Trial" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 13: 4649. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134649

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Efficacy of a U-Shaped Automatic Electric Toothbrush in Dental Plaque Removal: A Cross-Over Randomized Controlled Trial

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