Significant Reduction In Plaque Scores Research Articles

Effect of oil pulling on the Streptococcus mutans concentation in plaque around orthodontic brackets -A prospective clinical study.

Fixed orthodontic appliances create areas of plaque stagnation leading to an increase in the volume, structure, and composition of plaque. This increases the chances of decalcification and white spot lesions. Oil pulling, an ancient practice involving swishing oil in the mouth, has demonstrated a significant reduction in plaque scores after 45 days, and a reduction in salivary Streptococcus mutans concentration in few studies done in nonorthodontic subjects. The aim was to compare the concentration of S. mutans in plaque around orthodontic brackets in patients using oil pulling with sesame oil and those on routine oral hygiene. Twenty subjects requiring fixed orthodontic treatment were divided into two equal groups: Group A-Oil pulling and Group B-Control. All subjects were instructed to follow common oral hygiene methods and in addition, Group A was instructed to perform oil pulling for 30 days starting 1 month after placement of fixed appliances. Plaque specimens were collected from labial surfaces of maxillary lateral incisors and quantification of S. mutans was done using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mean and standard deviations for descriptive statistics, paired, and unpaired sample t-tests were analyzed. Comparison of S. mutans concentration between T1 and T2 demonstrated a significant difference in both control and study groups. The experimental group showed significantly lesser S. mutans concentration compared to the control group. Oil-pulling therapy with sesame oil resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the concentration of S. mutans in the plaque around orthodontic brackets.

Clinical Evaluation of Diode Laser as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in Patients With Chronic Periodontitis and Type II Diabetes Mellitus: A Split-Mouth Study.

The primary goal of periodontal therapy is to arrest the inflammatory disease process which is done by non-surgical and surgical therapies in order to reduce the microorganisms.The outcome of periodontal therapy may not reveal the desired results owing to inaccessible areas for instrumentation, pathogenicity, resistance of the microorganisms, or even due to compromised host response to the treatment. Thus, adjunctive laser therapy has been proposed as a novel treatment modality in the treatment of periodontal disease. Aim: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the effect of a 980 nm diode laser (DEN10B; Wuhan Gigaa Optronics Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China) therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with chronic periodontitis and type II diabetes. Twenty patients were divided into two groups in a split-mouth study design. Group I (Control) comprised mechanical debridement alone and Group II (test) comprised mechanical debridement followed by adjunctive laser therapy. The clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, six weeks, and three months, and the results were analyzed. There was a significant improvement in gingival and plaque index in the test group. Though there was no significant improvement in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment, the results in the test group were superior relative to the control group. Non-surgical periodontal therapy with adjunctive use of diode laser is effective in the management of generalized chronic periodontitis in patients with type II diabetes which led to a significant reduction in plaque score, gingival index score, probing pocket depth, and gain in clinical attachment level.

Effectiveness of Plaque Removal Using Different Toothbrushes in Children - A Comparative Study.

Effective plaque control is essential for improved oral health. Advancements in mechanical plaque removal using toothbrushes still continue. One such sophisticated intervention is the app-based toothbrush, a new innovative technology that helps to track the child's brushing habits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of three different toothbrushes in children aged 6-8 years. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted among primary school children with decayed missing filled teeth (dmft) score of ≤2. Baseline plaque score was collected using Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Index 1 week after oral prophylaxis. Children were randomly divided into three groups. Group I received conventional toothbrush (n = 25), group II received powered toothbrush (n = 25), and group III received app-based toothbrush (n = 25). Post-intervention plaque score, toothbrush wear and bite mark scores were done at the 15th, 30th, 45th and 90th day. Participant's opinion on their toothbrushes was evaluated using a questionnaire. App-based toothbrush showed maximum plaque reduction followed by powered and conventional toothbrush. Significant reduction in plaque score was seen at 30th-, 45th- and 90th-day follow-up in group II (<0.001) and group III (<0.001). There was no appreciable difference in the toothbrush wear and bite mark score between the three groups. Children preferred app-based toothbrush in spite of the complex nature of using it.

INTERVENTIONS ENHANCING DENTAL HEALTH IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Introduction: Elderly patients with cognitive impairments are at a heightened risk of poor dental health due to various barriers that impede their access to oral care and their ability to maintain proper oral hygiene. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to enhance dental health in this vulnerable population. Methods A comprehensiveliterature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, using a combination of keywords related to dental health, cognitive impairment, and elderly care. The review was limited to interventional studies and clinical trials published in English. Inclusion criteria were studies on populations aged 65 years and above with diagnosed cognitive impairments that assessed the outcomes of dental health interventions. Studies were excluded if they were observational, reviews, or did not directly measure dental health outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed on the included studies. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a range of interventions from professional dental care and the use of therapeutic dental products to caregiver training programs. Sample sizes ranged from 30 to 200 participants. Notable findings include a significant reduction in plaque scores and gingival inflammation with a risk ratio of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.59 -0.94), a 40% decrease in dental caries incidence (95% CI: 20-60%), and a 30% improvement in oral hygiene practices (95% CI: 15 -45%) following various interventions. Caregiver training programs were particularly effective, showing a 50% reduction in oral health-related complications (95% CI: 30-70%). Conclusions: The review highlights the effectiveness of multifaceted interventions in improving dental health among elderly patients with cognitive impairments. These interventions, especially when involving caregiver support, significantly contribute to better oral hygiene, reduced incidence of dental diseases, and overall improved quality of life for this demographic. Future research should focus on optimizing intervention designs and integrating caregiver involvement to enhance outcomes.

Comparing the effectiveness of boric acid and chlorhexidine irrigation as an adjunct to mechanical periodontal therapy in chronic periodontitis patients – A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Oral health is a part of the overall health and has a significant impact on both the physical and the psychological state. Dental caries and periodontal disease are the two major oral diseases that affect the human population worldwide. Aim: The aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness of boric acid and chlorhexidine (CHX) irrigation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in chronic periodontitis patients visiting VS Dental College and Hospital, Bengaluru. Materials and Methodology: A total of 123 subjects were randomly allocated to three groups (group 1 - boric acid, group 2 - CHX, group 3 - distilled water as a control group). The study subjects were assessed for all the clinical parameters at baseline and 1 and 3 months after the intervention. ANOVA test was used to compare the results between the groups. Results: The mean age among group 1 was 50 ± 5.1 years, in group 2 was 49 ± 5.4 years, and in group 3 was 48 ± 7.1 years. There was a significant reduction in plaque scores, gingival scores, and bleeding on probing scores in the boric acid group compared to distilled water group and CHX group at 1 and 3 months after treatment. Probing depths (PDs) and clinical attachment level scores are significantly decreased from baseline level to 1 and 3 months after intervention in the boric acid group compared to the CHX group and distilled water group. Conclusion: Boric acid or CHX can be used effectively in periodontal pockets as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal treatment compared with conventional treatment.

Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to periodontal scaling for treating periodontitis in geriatric patients.

The present study aimed to explore the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis among geriatric patients. This clinical trial assessed 60 geriatric patients having severe periodontitis (Stage III/Grade C). Participants were randomized in two groups: Group A - SRP + PDT (test group) and Group B - SRP alone. The assessment of clinical periodontal parameters included plaque scores (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Crevicular fluid interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were assessed using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). All measurements were performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. Mann-Whitney test was employed to analyze the mean values and establish inter-group comparisons. The p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The mean age of the included patients ranged from 65.4 to 67.1 years. On inter-group comparison, a statistically significant reduction in PS and BOP was seen for Group A patients compared to Group B patients at 3 months follow-up (p<0.001). Probing depth and CAL were reduced in both groups. However, at 3 months and 6 months follow-up, the inter-group comparison showed reduced PD (p<0.01) and gain in CAL (p<0.001) for Group A in comparison to Group B. At each follow-up re-evaluation, there was no significant difference in the IL-1β levels between both the groups (p>0.05). The same trend was followed by IL-6 at 3 months. However, the reduction in the IL-6 was maintained until 6 months of re-evaluation. PDT helped to reduce the clinical and pro-inflammatory load within the diseased periodontal pockets in geriatric patients.

Evaluation of the efficacy of plaque reduction and gingival health among 6-12 years old school children before and after a short term daily intake of probiotic lozenge - A comparative study.

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which when delivered in adequate amounts provides health benefit in the host. Dietary supplements like lozenge seem to be the easy and acceptable vehicle for ingestion of probiotics in young children. To assess the efficacy of probiotics in plaque reduction and gingival health among 6-12 years school children before and after short term daily intake of Probiotic lozenge. This Comparative study was conducted among 60 children in the age group 6-12 years. Thirty children in experimental group; who were given lozenge containing probiotic bacteria twice daily, one in the morning and another in the evening after brushing for one month. The placebo lozenge group also followed the same protocol. SPSS version 21. The Probiotic lozenge group was found to have statistically significant reduction in plaque scores when compared to that of the placebo group with P < 0.001 and there was also a significant improvement in gingival health. An effective reduction in plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation was found with the use of probiotic lozenges and hence proved the therapeutic value of the same.

Impacts of the Triple bristles three-sided sonic powered toothbrush on tooth shade, plaque control and gingival health.

To evaluate the efficacy of the Triple bristles three-sided sonic powered toothbrush in plaque removal and its impact on tooth shade and gingival health, and to compare this with a conventional manual toothbrush. Fifty two participants (26males and 26 females; mean age [SD]=22.48 [1.52], SE=0.210, 95% CI=22.06-22.90) were recruited into this controlled within-subject, randomized, two-treatment, 1-month crossover and examiner-blinded observational study between October 2020 and January 2021 in the School of Dentistry, University of Jordan. Within each participant, the upper and lower jaws were randomized to receive a brushing protocol either with the Triple bristles three-sided sonic brush or with a soft manual standard toothbrush with flat trimmed bristles. Tooth shades were recorded for upper and lower anterior and premolar teeth. The Turesky-Modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TMQHPI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were evaluated at study baseline, 1week and 1month after applying the brushing protocol. Both tested brushes were associated with significant reduction in plaque scores and BOP (p<0.05). The Triple bristles brush was more effective in reduction in plaque and BOP in the lower jaw and among females than the manual brush (p<0.05). The Triple bristles brush was more superior for reduction in plaque and probing on bleeding in the lower jaw and among females.

A novel biofilm removal approach (Guided Biofilm Therapy) utilizing erythritol air-polishing and ultrasonic piezo instrumentation: A randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the effectiveness of biofilm removal of a treatment protocol combining an air-abrasive device using erythritol powder (AIRFLOW®) and an ultrasonic piezon instrumentation (Guided Biofilm Therapy/GBT) compared with the conventional mechanical approach (Scaling and Root Planing/SRP) during supportive periodontal treatment (SPT). Fifty patients, scheduled for supportive periodontal treatment at the Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Implant Biology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki were randomly assigned to either a GBT (group A: 24 participants) or a SRP (Group B: 26 participants) treatment protocol. Therapeutic interventions and clinical measurements were performed at baseline and repeated at 6weeks. Oral hygiene instructions were reinforced at each visit. A questionnaire was handed to the participants for evaluation of patient perception of both utilized approaches. At 6weeks, the two groups showed statistically significant reduction in plaque score and in gingival bleeding index compared with baseline. GBT required approximately 15% less chair-time than SRP with a mean difference of 5.1min, which was statically significant (p=0.049). Patient perception was more favourable for GBT than SRP. Biofilm removal using erythritol AIRFLOW® and ultrasonic piezo-electric instruments (GBT) can be considered equally efficient compared with the conventional SRP. Moreover, GBT seemed to require shorter treatment time and to exhibit a more favourable patient perception than the conventional approach.

A visual evaluation of oral plaque removal utilizing an adjunct enzyme pre-rinse in orthodontic subjects.

To determine if an adjunct proteolytic pre-rinse along with contemporary methods of dental cleaning may more effectively remove visual plaque in subjects with fixed orthodontic appliances. Forty-three orthodontic subjects, ages 10 to 25, completed this single site, double-blind, crossover clinical trial. Subjects randomly received bromelain enzyme or a powdered-sugar placebo pre-rinse, followed by manual tooth brushing and use of a Waterpik. Subjects received the alternate pre-rinse during the subsequent visit. Baseline and residual plaque accumulation were recorded via disclosing tablet and digital photography. A single, blinded examiner scored visual plaque scores from randomized photographs. Treatment effects on composite plaque score were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis of variance. A 5% significance level was used for all tests. No significant differences in plaque scores were noted at baseline or post-rinse between the enzyme and placebo. The changes from baseline to post-rinse (P = .190), post-brushing (P = .764), and post-Waterpik (P = .882) were not significantly different between interventions. Significant reduction in plaque scores were observed in both arms of the study after brushing (P < .01) and waterjet use (P < .01). Neither age (P = .220) nor gender (P = .449) impacted plaque scores. Use of a bromelain enzyme pre-rinse alone did not significantly enhance plaque removal. A significant reduction in retained plaque was observed with the application of brushing and or Waterpik.

Application of photodynamic therapy against periodontal bacteria in established gingivitis lesions in adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

The aim of this 4 week follow up randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct to ultrasonic scaling (US) in the reduction of gingival inflammatory parameters and periodontal pathogens in established gingival inflammation in adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. A total of 22 adolescent patients (mean age: 17.5 years) undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment and presenting with persistent local gingival inflammation were randomized into two groups: Group-US: patients receiving ultrasonic scaling (US) with usual oral hygiene instructions and Group-PDT: in which patients received adjunctive PDT with US. Dichotomous recording for plaque scores (PS) and bleeding on probing (BOP) was used to assess the clinical inflammatory status. The total bacterial counts of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia were estimated and were expressed as log CFU/mL. All assessments were performed at baseline, 1 week and 4 weeks. For intergroup comparisons, student's t-test was computed along with Bonferroni correction for post hoc multiple comparisons. To identify differences between repeated follow-ups, ANOVA multiple rank test was used. Both treatment modalities reported statistically significant reduction in PS and BOP in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in PS and BOP when US was compared with PDT (p > 0.05). Group-US showed statistically significant reduction in T. forsythia at 1 week only (p < 0.05). Group-PDT showed statistically significant reduction in P. gingivalis and T. forsythia from baseline to 1 week and 4 weeks (p < 0.05). This was also significant when compared with US on both the time points (p < 0.05). PDT was effective in significantly reducing periodontal pathogens in established gingivitis lesions in adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment in short term.

Efficacy of T. Cordifolia (Guduchi) against plaque and gingivitis-A clinico-microbiological study

The present study was conducted to assess the clinical efficacy (against plaque and gingivitis) and antimicrobial efficacy (against gram negative, gram positive and S. mutans counts) of T. cordifolia (Guduchi). A nonrandomized before and after trial for 21 days of intervention was performed involving 17 participants. Plaque index, gingival index were recorded and saliva samples were collected at baseline, 13th day and 22nd day. Repeated measures ANOVA test was performed to compare the before and after results of the clinical parameters, i.e. score of plaque index and gingival index. Freidman's test was applied for comparison between the three intervals (for microbiological evaluation of colony counts). There was statistically significant reduction inplaque score, gingival score, and colony forming units of gram negative organisms and S. mutans from baseline to 22nd day (P = 0.001). There was no significant reduction with gram positive organisms. This clinico-microbiological study concluded that twice rinsing of T.cordifolia decoction as mouth rinse in adjunct to scaling and routine brushing of teeth for 21 days shows anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis, and antimicrobial action against gram negative organisms and S. mutans.

Clinical, microbiological and immunological outcomes with photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to full-mouth scaling in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the adjunctive role of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the improvement of clinical, microbiological and immunological parameters among adolescent patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment (FOT) during the period of 6 weeks. Fifty adolescent patients undergoing FOT were divided into following two groups; Group-A: PDT as an adjunct to full-mouth scaling (FMS) and, Group-B: FMS alone. Full-mouth plaque scores (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were estimated using full-mouth six point periodontal charting. Plaque samples were collected for percentage bacterial counts of P. intermedia and P. gingivalis. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) sampling technique was employed for estimation of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All measurements were performed at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 weeks. The mean age of patients in Group-A and Group-B was 15.4 years and 14.2 years, respectively. The mean duration for fixed orthodontic therapy in patients for Group A and B were 1.25 and 1.3 years, respectively. At 3 weeks follow up, both groups showed significant reduction in PS and BOP (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in BOP and PI at 6 weeks (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in IL-6 at 3 weeks and TNF-α at 6 weeks between both groups (p < 0.05). The percentage levels for both Pi and Pg significantly reduced at 3 weeks follow up in both the groups, however, these levels were again raised at 6 weeks follow up. There was a statistically significant difference between Group-A and Group-B (p < 0.05) at 3 weeks and 6 weeks follow up. Photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to FMS helps to improve clinical gingival parameters, microbial and inflammatory load. PDT showed additional benefits in reducing bleeding scores in adolescent patients undergoing FOT.

Clinical and microbiological outcomes of photodynamic and systemic antimicrobial therapy in smokers with peri-implant inflammation.

To compare the effectiveness of two protocols in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis (p-iM) among cigarette smokers. Three groups were randomized into (i) single session of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) with mechanical debridement (MD) (Group-A), (ii) systemic AB with MD (Group-B), and (iii) MD alone (Group-C). Clinical peri-implant parameters including plaque scores (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Microbiological parameters included the assessment of percentage level of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at baseline and 12 weeks. All parameters were analyzed using Friedman test and multiple comparisons performed using Bonferroni tests. P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. At 6 weeks of follow-up, there was a statistically significant reduction in PS (p < 0.001), BOP (p < 0.01), and PD (p < 0.05) among patients in groups A and B on intragroup comparison. At 12 weeks of follow-up, there was a further significant reduction in PS (p < 0.001) and BOP (p < 0.01) among patients in groups A and B on intragroup comparison but this reduction was comparable with 6-week follow-up. On inter-group comparison, only Group-A showed statistically significant reduction in BOP compared to Group-B and C at 6 weeks (p < 0.05). The levels of both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in Group-A and Group-B showed statistically significant reductions at 12 weeks compared with baseline (p < 0.01). On inter-group comparison, Group-A and B showed no significant differences at follow-up (p > 0.05). This short term clinical study suggests that aPDT as an adjunct to MD is as efficacious as adjunctive antibiotic therapy. However, additional benefits in the reduction of bleeding scores were observed for aPDT in peri-implant inflammation among cigarette smokers.

A 1-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial with focus on manual and electric toothbrushes’ effect on dental hygiene in nursing homes

Objective: A 2-month randomized clinical trial (RCT) study comparing electric and manual toothbrushes used by residents in nursing homes showed significant reduction in plaque score for both groups. The aim of this follow up study was to study if the effect sustained in a longer perspective when toothbrushes were used according to resident’s own preference.Materials and methods: One year after baseline of the RCT-study, 100 participants were re-examined. The simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) was used as outcome measure on dental plaque.Results: The mean age was 86.6, 78.1% had three or more medical diagnoses and 52.2% had moderate to severe cognitive impairment. The mean number of natural teeth was 18.8. After 1 year, mean plaque scores was significantly reduced within the population, from 1.2 to 0.7 (p < .001). A total of 46 participants preferred to use an electric toothbrush and 54 preferred manual. No significant difference in plaque score was found between electric and manual toothbrushes.Conclusion: After 1 year, the improvement in dental hygiene from the RCT study sustained for users of both electric and manual toothbrush. Focus upon tooth brushing seems to be efficient and both manual and electric toothbrushes should be available in nursing homes.

Effects of Bristle Hardness &amp; Duration of Manual Tooth brushing on Plaque Control

Background: Oral health is an integral part of general health. Poor oral health can have adverse effect on general health hence a good oral health is very essential, which in turn is achieved by good oral hygiene. Even though, the concept of good oral hygiene evolved 5000 years back, it is only in the beginning of 19th century it gained more importance. (1) Dental caries and periodontal disease are the most commonly occurring diseases affecting mankind. Dental plaque is a very important factor in the causation of both the diseases. (2) Aims &amp; Objectives: To evaluate efficacy of four different types of toothbrushes, with difference in duration of brushing along with different bristle hardness in removal of microbial plaque. Material &amp; Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, four groups with 40 subjects used manual toothbrushes with either hard, medium, soft and ultra-soft bristles. On baseline examination, clinical parameter plaque index (Sillness &amp; Loe, 1964) was recorded. Selected subjects were refrained from all kinds of oral hygiene measures for 24 hrs before clinical appointment. On the day of clinical appointment scores of pre and post brushing were recorded in each patient when brushing time was set for 1 minute and same procedure was repeated after a wash off period of 3 days and similar recordings were made with brushing time of 11/2minute. Primary outcome was measured with differences in the plaque index (Sillness &amp; Loe, 1964) compared to baseline. Results: Significant reduction in mean value of plaque score was observed on comparing pre-brushing and post-brushing data in all the subjects irrespective of bristle hardness in both 1 minute and 11/2 minute groups. On increasing time duration from 1 minute to 11/2 minute intergroup comparison revealed that significant correlation exist in mean plaque score reduction in subjects using medium bristle brush, soft bristle brush, ultra-soft bristle brush. However, no significant reduction in plaque score was observed on increasing duration from 1 minute to 11/2 minute in subjects using hard bristle brush. Conclusion: Manual toothbrushes with hard bristles better remove plaque, but may also cause more soft tissue trauma compared to brushes with softer bristles.

Plaque removal efficacy of Colgate 360 toothbrush: A clinical study.

Aim:The aim of this clinical study was to confirm the plaque removal efficacy of the Colgate 360 Whole Mouth Clean Toothbrush.Study Design:This was a single-center, monadic, case–controlled study with the 7 days duration.Materials and Methods:A total of eighty participants (56 male and 24 female) aged between 18 and 45 years with a minimum of 20 permanent teeth (excluding the third molars) without any prosthetic crowns and an initial plaque score of minimum 1.5 as determined by Modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (1970) participated in the study. There were two dropouts during the study duration, one male and one female. The participants were instructed to brush for 1 min, after which plaque index was recorded again. They were then instructed to brush their teeth twice a day for 1 min with the assigned toothbrush (Colgate 360 Whole Mouth Clean Toothbrush) and a commercially available fluoride toothpaste for the next 7 days. On the 7th day, all the participants were recalled for follow-up and plaque examination. The plaque index scores (pre- and post-brushing) were recorded, tabulated, and analyzed statistically.Results:The mean plaque indices reduced after brushing both on day 1 and day 7. There was also a reduction in mean plaque indices from day 1 to day 7. All these reductions were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The reduction in plaque scores was independent of the gender of the participants however female participants showed lower scores as compared to male participants (P < 0.001).Conclusion:The present study demonstrated a significant reduction in plaque scores with the use of Colgate 360 Whole Mouth Clean Soft Toothbrush throughout the study period. Continued use resulted in a further significant reduction in plaque scores irrespective of the gender of participants.

Azithromycin buccal patch in treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Aim:This study aims to explore the clinical, microbiological, and biochemical impact of azithromycin (AZM) buccal patch in chronic generalized patients as a monotherapy as well as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy.Materials and Methods:A parallel design was used forty periodontitis patients were randomly allocated into five groups, namely Group 1 scaling root planing (SRP) alone, Group 2 (SRP + AZM patch group), Group 3 (SRP + AZM tablet group), Group 4 (AZM patch monotherapy), and Group 5 (AZM tablet as monotherapy). Plaque index, gingival bleeding index, modified gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline and 21 and 90 days. Subgingival pooled plaque sample was collected to assess periodontopathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) by anaerobic culture method. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was also evaluated at baseline and 21 days. Periodontal maintenance was performed in Group 1 until 90th day, and clinical parameter was assessed at the end of 90th day.Results:SRP + AZM tablets showed greater reduction in clinical parameters (P < 0.05) AZM as monotherapy did not offer clinical benefits over SRP. Baseline data were compared at the end, i.e., 90th day a significant reduction in plaque scores, gingival bleeding, and PPD was observed however no significant gain in the clinical attachment was observed.Conclusion:The monotherapy resulted in no improvement of periodontal parameters, microbial parameters, and TNF-α level. It is safe to use AZM + SRP as a mode of nonsurgical treatment in periodontitis patients.

An Evaluation of Plaque Removal Efficacy of Five Commercially Available Toothbrushes: A Comparative Clinical Study

Background and Objectives – The aim of the study is to compare the plaque removal efficacy of five commercially available tooth brushes. Materials & Methods –The study group consisted of 75 subjects with age ranging 17 to 27 years distributed into five groups- Group A [Colgate Supershine], Group B [Colgate Zig zag], Group C [Oral B Allrounder], Group D [Oral B Fresh Clean], Group E [Pepsodent double action]. Study was single blinded, randomized clinical trial. Turesky- Gilmore- Glickmann Modification of Quigley-Hein Plaque Index and Modified Sulcular bleeding index were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Results – All brushes showed significant reduction in plaque score over 8 weeks. The percentage of plaque reduction from baseline to 4 weeks for Group A, B, C, D & E is 58.74, 61.95, 57.86, 50.28 & 53.59 respectively. The percentage of plaque reduction from baseline to 8 weeks for Group A, B, C, D & E is 67.83, 76.11, 62.86, 56.42 & 60.13 respectively. The percentage of plaque reduction from 4 weeks to 8 weeks for Group A, B, C, D & E is 22.03, 37.21, 11.86, 12.36 & 14.08 respectively. However, the reduction of plaque scores is greater in Group B [76%] when compared to other groups. Conclusion – Within the limitations of the study, the data derived from the study shows that all the tooth brushes has shown decrease in plaque scores. In comparison, Colgate Zig zag [Group B] has some beneficial effects in reduction of plaque scores.

The effect of sugar‐free chewing gum on plaque and clinical parameters of gingival inflammation: a systematic review

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature on the clinical effects of sugar-free chewing gum on plaque indices and parameters of gingival inflammation. The MEDLINE-PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL and EMBASE databases were searched up to 20 April 2012 to identify any appropriate studies. Plaque indices and parameters of gingival inflammation were selected as outcome variables. An independent screening of the 594 unique titles and abstracts identified six non-brushing and four brushing studies that met the eligibility criteria. In the non-brushing studies, the use of chewing gum did not significantly affect the parameters of interest. In the descriptive analysis of the brushing studies, four of five comparisons showed a statistically significant effect in favour of the sugar-free chewing gum with respect to plaque scores. The meta-analysis for the Quigley & Hein (J Am Dent Assoc 1962; 65: 26) plaque index scores in the brushing studies also showed a significant difference (DiffM -0.24, 95% CI [-0.41; -0.08]). For bleeding tendency, the descriptive analysis showed that one of the two comparisons identified a significant difference in favour of chewing gum. The meta-analysis, however, did not substantiate this difference. Within the limitations of this systematic review, it may be concluded that the use of sugar-free chewing gum as an adjunct to toothbrushing provides a small but significant reduction in plaque scores. Chewing sugar-free gum showed no significant effect on gingivitis scores. In the absence of brushing, no effect on plaque and gingivitis scores could be established.