Method: After institutional review and informed consent, adults who were undergoing dental treatment (typically restorative, esthetic or prosthetic dentistry) were enrolled and dispensed a combination oral hygiene regimen involving an oscillation-rotation power brush (Oral-B® ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000), a 0.454% stannous fluoride paste (Crest® Pro-Health), and 0.07% cetylpryidinium chloride rinse (Crest Pro-Health), along with manufacturer’s instructions for twice daily use. At baseline, disclosed daytime dental plaque was measured using a standard index (TMQHI) and high resolution intraoral photographs were collected. Subjects were then reevaluated periodically during ongoing dental treatment for daytime plaque, adverse events and clinical photography.
Result: A total of 12 adults were enrolled, with a mean (SD) age of 54 (13.2) years, and 11 completed the pilot study. The evaluation period varied considerably (based on the coincident dental treatment plan), with a mean (SD) of 62 (39.5) days of combination use, ranging from 21-127 days. TMQHI plaque mean (SD) was 1.99 (0.66) at baseline, compared to 1.17 (0.81) at the end-of-treatment. This represented a significant (p<0.0081) 41% reduction in plaque relative to baseline. Only 1 subject (9%) failed to show a measured improvement in plaque with combination use. There were no adverse events, and combination paste-power-rinse oral hygiene did not contribute to complications with dental treatment.
Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that combination daily oral hygiene regimen with a power brush plus a therapeutic paste and rinse may be used to reduce plaque levels during a dental treatment.