A randomized crossover-design study to investigate the plaque removal efficacy of two power toothbrushes: Philips Sonicare Flexcare and Oral-B Triumph.

The Sonicare FlexCare and the Oral-B Triumph Professional Care 9000 power toothbrushes were compared in a single-use, examiner-masked, crossover clinical trial. Outcomes were evaluated using the Turesky Modified Quigley-Hein (TMQH) plaque index. Percent reduction in overall plaque score because of toothbrushing was the primary efficacy measure. Subjects were required to have a TMQH score > or = 1.8 at screening after refraining from oral hygiene for 24 hours. The study included three visits. At visit 1, subjects were randomized to one of two treatment sequences, given their first toothbrush and toothpaste, and instructed to use them twice daily for 2 minutes during a 1-week familiarization phase. Before visit 2, subjects again refrained from oral hygiene for 24 hours. At this visit, plaque scores were assessed before and after a 2-minute supervised brushing episode, then the second test product was issued. Familiarization, plaque accumulation, and clinical examinations were the same for both product use periods. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with subject as a grouping factor. Treatment effects were expressed as mean values and the appropriate 95% confidence intervals (CI). Ninety-six subjects were screened with 93 subjects completing the study. The sample's TMQH score at Visit 1 was 3.18 +/- 0.42 (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]). Full-mouth prebrushing plaque scores were 2.85 +/- 0.49 for FlexCare and 2.94 +/- 0.45 for Triumph. Respective full-mouth reductions in overall plaque score were 38.02% +/- 15.14% and 30.43% +/- 14.05%. The estimated treatment effect, expressed as difference between FlexCare and Triumph in percent plaque index reduction, was 7.59% with a 95% CI from 4.79% to 10.40%. Similar differences were observed for all subregions, including anterior, posterior, interproximal, and interproximal posterior sites. The same protocol design was used at an earlier study in another center. The combined overall treatment effect from the two studies was estimated at 6.97% (95% CI: 5.17%, 8.78%), favoring FlexCare.

A practice based evaluation of a range of children's manual toothbrushes: safety and acceptance.

Toothbrushes for children have not suited all age groups. The development of a series of children's toothbrushes (Oral-B Stages toothbrushes) targeted at four age-defined groups and designed to meet their needs offers the potential to enhance oral hygiene. To obtain information regarding the specific likes and dislikes of these four children's toothbrushes, a randomized, practice based study involving children between the ages of 4 months and 11 years was conducted. Children were recruited from 25 pediatric dental practices located in the United States, Australia, and Europe. After 1 month of using the brushes, questionnaires were completed by the parents or guardians, children, and dental professionals. Eighty percent to 90% of respondents "liked" or "liked extremely" the toothbrushes with respect to overall like or dislike, cleaning ability, ease of use, and gentleness. Ninety-five percent of the dental professionals in the study concluded that they would recommend these toothbrushes to their patients and 90% thought that the toothbrushes would improve their patients' oral health. It was concluded that the four children's toothbrushes are safe and effective. The design of the brush heads should enhance plaque removal while the ergonomic design of the handles will aid dexterity.