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Efficacy of various side-to-side toothbrushes for noncontact biofilm removal
Julia C Schmidt1, Monika Astasov-Frauenhoffer, Irmgard Hauser-Gerspach
1Department of Periodontology, Cariology and Endodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 3, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of four different powered toothbrushes with side-to-side action for noncontact biofilm removal in vitro.
Materials And Methods:
A three-species biofilm was formed in vitro on protein-coated titanium disks using a flow chamber combined with a static biofilm growth model. Subsequently, the biofilm-coated substrates were exposed to four different side-to-side toothbrushes (A, B, C, and D) with various brushing times (2, 4, and 6 s) and brushing (bristle-to-disk) distances (0, 2, and 4 mm). The biofilm volumes were measured using volumetric analyses with confocal laser scanning microscope images and Imaris version 7.5.2 software.
Results:
The median percentages of biofilm reduction by the analyzed toothbrushes ranged from 9 % to 80 %. The abilities of the tested toothbrushes to remove the in vitro biofilm differed significantly (p < 0.05). Two of the tested toothbrushes (C and D) were capable of significant biofilm reduction by noncontact brushing.
Conclusions:
It was possible to reduce a three-species in vitro biofilm by noncontact brushing with two out of four side-to-side toothbrushes.
Clinical Relevance:
Toothbrushes C and D show in vitro a high efficacy in biofilm removal without bristle contact.
