A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial Investigating 16-Branched Filament Toothbrush Effects on Dental Plaque Removal

Self-care using an appropriate toothbrush is important for oral health management. The aim of this clinical trial in older adults was to evaluate the effectiveness of a prototype toothbrush with 16-branched filament ends (16-BFE) in dental plaque removal compared to a toothbrush with super tapered filament (STF).

Fifty older adults in Japan (13 males and 37 females, mean age 70.8 ± 8.7 years) with 20 or more teeth were enrolled in this study. Participants were divided into Group A (26 subjects) and Group B (24 subjects) and a randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted. Intervention Study I was performed for 3 min using a prototype 16-BFE toothbrush. Dental plaque accumulation areas and gingival abrasion areas were measured before and after brushing by staining with MIRA-2-Ton. Intervention Study II was conducted in the same manner using an STF toothbrush. Crossover design was as follows: Group A was followed by an intervention study from I to II, while Group B was from II to I, with a washout period of 2 or 3 months. Analysis was performed using a modified PCR method (six sections of one tooth surface).

The average dental plaque removal rate using a 16-BFE toothbrush was 22.4%, which was a significant reduction compared to 18.5% of the STF toothbrush (p < 0.05). There was only one small area out of 1700 areas examined regarding gingival abrasion when using a 16-BFE toothbrush.

These results suggested that the 16-BFE toothbrush provided a more effective way in dental plaque removal when compared to the STF toothbrush and was less harmful to the gingiva. Even though 16-BFE showed a significant improvement, clinical relevance and long-term effects needed to be further investigated.