Abstract

Objectives: To assess consumer acceptance of a custom-fit, full-mouth power toothbrush and to evaluate its abilityto reduce dental plaque, gingival bleeding, inflammation, and recession as compared to a manual toothbrush.

Methods: Adults (n=101) participated in a consumer research study of the ZERObrush power toothbrush (ZBPT)in which they used the ZBPT for 2 weeks and subsequently completed a survey. Sixty-three subjects were enrolled ina examiner-blind, randomized, parallel design 4 week clinical study conducted at a single center. Subjects started thestudy with a 1week washout period using a manual toothbrush (MTB), after which they were randomized to one of twotreatments: ZBPT for 30 s per brushing or MTB for 60 s per brushing. Efficacy and safety evaluations were conductedat baseline and at 4 weeks, in which plaque, gingival inflammation, bleeding and recession were assessed.

Results: At baseline both treatments resulted in within-group reductions from pre-brushing to post-brushingthat were statistically significant (p<0.0001). There was a 54.8% reduction in the overall plaque score for the ZBPTgroup and a 29.9% reduction in the MTB group. The between-group treatment difference was statistically significant(p<0.0001). Examining the plaque scores at 4 weeks showed that the ZBPT group returned with statistically significantlylower plaque scores from baseline whereas there was no statistically significant reduction in the plaque scores inthe MTB group. This between-group treatment difference was statistically different (p=0.0243). The change in scorefrom baseline to week 4 for both bleeding and inflammation showed the between-group treatment differences werestatistically significant (p=0.0012, p<0.001; respectively). Although the recession measures trended lower for bothgroups, the changes from baseline were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The ZERObrush powered toothbrush was statistically superior to the manual toothbrush in reducingdental plaque, gingival inflammation and bleeding following 4 weeks’ home use. Both products tested were found tobe safe.