Comparison of dental plaque reduction after use of electric toothbrushes with and without QLF-D-applied plaque visualization: a 1-week randomized controlled trial

Sumio Akifusa,Hiroko Oyama,Kanako Kibata,Akinori Oyama,Wataru Ariyoshi,Ayaka Isobe,Tatsuji Nishihara

doi:10.1186/s12903-019-0982-3

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed electric toothbrush in reducing dental plaque via a quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital (QLF-D)-applied visualisation system in the brush head.MethodsParticipants included 20 adults aged 19 to 28 years. Participants were randomly assigned either (i) an electric toothbrush with a monitor to visualise red-fluorescent dental plaque via a camera built into the brush head (monitor usage group, n = 10) or (ii) an electric toothbrush without a monitor (monitor-non-use group, n = 10). The amount of dental plaque was assessed by personal hygiene performance (PHP) at baseline and 1 week later.ResultsIn the monitor-usage group, PHP score was significantly lower at the 1-week follow-up than at baseline (6 vs 16; range, 0–12 vs 13–21; P = 0.029). This change was not observed in the monitor-non-use group (14 vs 13; range, 6–21 vs 2–26; P = 0.778). After 1 week, the change in PHP scores in the monitor usage group was significantly greater than that in the monitor non-use group (− 10 vs 0; range, − 21 to 9 vs − 8 to 16; P = 0.021).ConclusionsOur results clearly demonstrate that brushing teeth while looking at a monitor that depicts red-autofluorescent dental plaque via application of QLF-D improved the efficacy of dental-plaque removal relative to brushing teeth without a monitor.Trial registrationTrial registration number: UMIN000033699.Name of registry: Study on effect of new devise for oral care on dental plaque clearance.Date of registration: 8th September 2018.Status of registration: Completed.

Highlights

To evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed electric toothbrush in reducing dental plaque via a quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital (QLF-D)-applied visualisation system in the brush head
The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of this system in the reduction of dental plaque relative to the use of an electronic toothbrush in the absence of a monitor among generally healthy participants without clinical gingivitis over the course of a one-week period
personal hygiene performance (PHP) scores had significantly decreased by the follow-up exam (6 to 16; range, 0–2 and 13–21, respectively; P = 0.029)

Summary

Introduction

To evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed electric toothbrush in reducing dental plaque via a quantitative light-induced fluorescence-digital (QLF-D)-applied visualisation system in the brush head. We developed an oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush with a QLFD built-in brush head that includes a light source and camera. Users of this toothbrush can observe redfluorescent dental plaque on the tooth surface while brushing their teeth in real-time via a monitor, such as a tablet or smartphone. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of this system in the reduction of dental plaque relative to the use of an electronic toothbrush in the absence of a monitor among generally healthy participants without clinical gingivitis over the course of a one-week period. The present study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to report on the use of this novel system comprising an oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush with a QLF-D built-in brush head and monitor

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