Efficacy of straight versus angled interdental brushes on interproximal tooth cleaning: a randomized controlled trial
Int J Dent Hygiene DOI: 10.1111/idh.12042 , , , . Efficacy of straight versus angled interdental brushes on interproximal tooth cleaning: a randomized controlled trial.
Abstract
Background
To
investigate interproximal biofilm reduction with an angled interdental
brush as compared to a straight interdental brush (standard control) in a
clinical, single-centre, single-blind, controlled, parallel-group
trial.
Methods
Recruitment
and examinations of the subjects were performed at the Witten/Herdecke
University School of Dental Medicine. 128 volunteers, aged 20–65 years,
were recruited and stratified according to sex and age. Two groups with
64 subjects each used either straight (standard control) or angled (test
group) handgripped interdental toothbrushes of the same bristle
stiffness. After a 12-day home-care habituation period, participants
received a professional tooth cleaning followed by a 48-h plaque
regrowth period. At the intervention appointment, plaque was recorded
with a fluorescent revelator and soft tissue damage was noted (T0). Interdental brushing was performed by the participant for 2 min, and clinical parameters were recorded again (T1).
The
primary efficacy end point was the difference in modified Proximal
Plaque Index (mPPI) after brushing compared to baseline. Secondary
efficacy end points were mPPI differences in subgroups (anterior vs.
posterior teeth; vestibular vs. oral tooth surfaces). Safety end point
was the Danser gingival abrasion index (DI).
Results
mPPI showed lower scores after brushing within all (sub)groups (P < 0.01). mPPI brushing efficacy (ΔT0 − T1) in subjects using straight interdental brushes was significantly higher as compared to angled interdental brushes (P < 0.0001).
Straight interdental brushes were significantly more effective in
posterior teeth, when used from vestibular and from oral tooth surfaces (P < 0.0001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.0001,
respectively). No significant differences were found between the groups
in anterior teeth and concerning soft tissue damage.
Conclusions
Straight interdental brushes may better remove plaque interproximally when compared to angled interdental brushes.
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