Plaque-removing Effects of Interdental Instruments in Molar Region

Many types of interdental instrument, such as dental floss and interdental brushes, can be purchased easily and sell in large numbers. Many studies have compared the effects of such instruments. Few studies have investigated their relationship with regions of residual plaque, however. The purpose of this study was to compare rates of plaque removal from the mesial and distal surfaces of the bilateral maxillary and mandibular premolars and molars among 3 types of interdental instrument: finger-winding-dental floss, holder-type dental floss, and an interdental brush. Prior to the experiment, the artificial teeth in a jaw model were removed for application of artificial plaque. The teeth were then replaced and the model attached to a phantom. An operator brushed the teeth in a posture close to that adopted in actual tooth brushing with each type of instrument, after which the plaque removal rate was compared among them. The rate of plaque removal using finger-winding floss was the highest, although this type of instrument is less easy to hold than the others. The rate with a handle-equipped interdental instrument showed a decrease in some regions, although it is easy to hold. The results of this study suggest that the type of interdental instrument used should differ depending on the region to be cleaned.