IADR Abstract Archives
Effectiveness of Interdental Cleaning With Gummi Picks and Dental Floss
Objectives: The aim of this in-vivo study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two interdental cleaning aids using two oral hygiene indices.
Methods: This randomized, examiner-blinded parallel study involved 80 dental students (age: 24.68 ± 3.63 years; 53 females and 27 males). The sample size was calculated using G-Power with a power of 80%, a significance level of p < 0.05, an effect size of 0.6, and a 20% dropout rate. Inclusion criteria required participants to have healthy periodontal status and a mean Papilla Bleeding Index (PBI) of ≥ 1. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (EasyPick TePe™) and Group 2 (TePe dental floss, Hamburg). Over a period of three weeks, participants used their assigned cleaning aid daily in addition to regular tooth brushing. The PBI and the modified Approximal Plaque Index (mAPI) were recorded at baseline (T1) and at the final examination (T2). Statistical analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the One-way ANOVA tests (p < 0.05), assuming a normal distribution. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 29.
Results: The mean values (standard deviation ) of the mAPI index were 1.20 (0.21) at T1 and 0.52 (0.22) at T2 for EasyPick, and 1.17 (0.18) at T1 and 0.45 (0.14) at T2 for dental floss. The mean values (standard deviation) of the PBI index were 1.12 (0.53) at T1 and 0.65 (0.42) at T2 for EasyPick, and 1.12 (0.42) at T1 and 0.61 (0.29) at T2 for dental floss. The results showed that both the PBI and mAPI were significantly reduced after three weeks of use in both groups. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups.
Conclusions: Taking into account the limitations of this study, the use of EasyPicks can be considered a viable and recommendable alternative to dental floss for interdental cleaning.
Methods: This randomized, examiner-blinded parallel study involved 80 dental students (age: 24.68 ± 3.63 years; 53 females and 27 males). The sample size was calculated using G-Power with a power of 80%, a significance level of p < 0.05, an effect size of 0.6, and a 20% dropout rate. Inclusion criteria required participants to have healthy periodontal status and a mean Papilla Bleeding Index (PBI) of ≥ 1. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (EasyPick TePe™) and Group 2 (TePe dental floss, Hamburg). Over a period of three weeks, participants used their assigned cleaning aid daily in addition to regular tooth brushing. The PBI and the modified Approximal Plaque Index (mAPI) were recorded at baseline (T1) and at the final examination (T2). Statistical analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the One-way ANOVA tests (p < 0.05), assuming a normal distribution. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 29.
Results: The mean values (standard deviation ) of the mAPI index were 1.20 (0.21) at T1 and 0.52 (0.22) at T2 for EasyPick, and 1.17 (0.18) at T1 and 0.45 (0.14) at T2 for dental floss. The mean values (standard deviation) of the PBI index were 1.12 (0.53) at T1 and 0.65 (0.42) at T2 for EasyPick, and 1.12 (0.42) at T1 and 0.61 (0.29) at T2 for dental floss. The results showed that both the PBI and mAPI were significantly reduced after three weeks of use in both groups. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups.
Conclusions: Taking into account the limitations of this study, the use of EasyPicks can be considered a viable and recommendable alternative to dental floss for interdental cleaning.