Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
Semi-Automated Planimetric Quantification of Dental Plaque Using an Intraoral Fluorescence Camera
Published on: January 27, 2023
Laboratory evaluation of plaque removal at interproximal sites by a specially engineered powered toothbrush with
James H Kemp1, Caren M Barnes, Christine M Spirgel
1Colgate-Palmolive Technology Center, Piscataway, NJ, USA. James_Kemp@colpal.com
Objective:
This laboratory study compared a specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies and having two different brush heads to a manual flat-trim toothbrush for their ability to remove plaque at interproximal sites.
Methods:
Interproximal access efficacy (IAE) was measured as the maximum width of plaque removed from the artificial plaque substrate around the teeth. Six brushes of each product were tested four times for a total of 24 tests. Results from these tests were statistically analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). A post hoc Tukey test for pair-wise comparisons, with a minimum significance level of 0.05, was used to identify significant mean differences between the test products.
Results:
Relative to the manual flat-trim toothbrush, the sonic powered toothbrush, equipped with either the Triple Clean or Sensitive refill brush head, had statistically significantly higher IAE means (p < 0.001). In addition, when equipped with the Sensitive refill brush head, the new sonic powered toothbrush showed increased efficiencies compared to when it was equipped with the Triple Clean brush head with respect to IAE means.
Conclusion:
The specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies had higher interproximal access efficacy compared to a manual flat-trim toothbrush, particularly with the Sensitive brush head.
