Effects of a Power Toothbrush in the Experimental Gingivitis Model

Objectives: To examine the effects of a rechargeable oscillating/rotating power toothbrush on gingivitis prevention using an experimental gingivitis model.
Methods: This was a single-center, examiner-blinded, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial. The study consisted of 2 phases: 1. Two-week Oral Hygiene phase, 2. Three-week Induced gingivitis phase (Days 0 through 21). During the hygiene phase, subjects received an oral prophylaxis and used a power toothbrush (Oral-B Professional Care 4000) with regular toothpaste. At Day 0 of the Induced Gingivitis phase, 49 subjects were randomized to either a “no hygiene” group or a power brush group. Subjects in the “no hygiene” group abandoned all oral hygiene, and subjects in the power brush group brushed 2x daily (Oral-B Professional Care 4000) with a regular toothpaste. Subjects received an oral prophylaxis at Day 21. Gingivitis was assessed via Loe-Silness examinations (LSGI) at Day -14, Day 0, Day 14 and Day 21.
Results: Mean age was 32 years and 53% of subjects were female. Groups were balanced (p>0.4) with respect to their demographics and gingivitis scores. At Day 0, mean LSGI was 1.20, and mean number of bleeding sites was 40.49. Significant gingivitis differences (p<0.001) were observed between the groups at Days 14 and 21 for whole mouth and sub-regions, with correlations of whole mouth vs. facial anterior surfaces of 0.94 for LSGI and 0.91 for number of bleeding sites. Day 21 LSGI adjusted means were 1.16 and 1.56 for the power brush and the “no hygiene” group, respectively, corresponding to a 25% difference. Adjusted means for number of bleeding sites was 36.25 for power brush and 91.25 for the “no hygiene” group, corresponding to a 60% difference.
Conclusions: An oscillating/rotating power toothbrush demonstrated gingivitis prevention in this short-term, induced gingivitis model.