Clinical comparison of plaque removal and gingival bleeding reduction by two different brush heads on a sonic...

Previous clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of a sonic toothbrush (Sonicare) in plaque removal and reduction of gingival inflammation. Currently, several different brush heads are available for this sonic toothbrush. The purpose of this clinical study was to compare two different brush heads (nine row and eight row) with respect to their ability to remove dental plaque and reduce gingival bleeding. One-hundred twenty-one young adults, in good general and periodontal health, volunteered as subjects in this five-week, single-blind, crossover study. All subjects used one brush for a two-week period, brushing twice daily for two minutes. Subjects used a manual toothbrush during a one-week washout period, and then used the other head for two weeks. At the beginning and end of each two-week trial period, subjects were scored for plaque and bleeding by means of the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index and the Mombelli et al. modification of the Sulcus Bleeding Index of Mühlemann and Son. Findings of reductions were limited to "before vs. after" assessments. The nine-row brush demonstrated a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in plaque removal on the smooth surfaces (p = 0.02) as well as significant reductions in bleeding at interproximal (p = 0.04) and posterior sites (p = 0.031). Overall, both brushes appeared to be effective in reducing dental plaque and bleeding. A questionnaire administered to all subjects at the end of the five-week study revealed a preference for the smaller of the brush heads.