|
New Articles
   |
May 11, 2009 | DentalProductsReport.com Exclusive Powered vs. manual: Toothbrushes While it seems that gizmos and gadgets are ranked high amongst Americans’ most prized possessions, how should technology fit into your patients’ bathroom? by Lauren Bryant  Photo: HealthyWhite by Philips Sonicare
The 2003 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index, an annual survey of Americans’ perceptions about inventing and innovating, found that 42% of adults and 34% of teens viewed toothbrushes as an invention that they could not live without; outranking automobiles, personal computers, cell phones and microwaves. Now with myriad choices of styles, sizes and operating power, is there a significant advantage of power over manual toothbrushes? Often alluring to tech-obsessed consumers, power toothbrushes, available in rechargeable electric or battery powered models, can often come with a hefty price tag and can be off-putting to weary patients that may not see the benefits of splurging on a seemingly simple everyday item. The Cochrane Oral Health Group a part of The Cochrane Collaboration, a nonprofit organization focused on providing systematic assessments of clinical data published in scientific literature, reviewed a series of studies on the effectiveness of powered versus manual toothbrushes. After identifying 354 trials, they selected 29 to review based on the following criteria: compared power versus manual toothbrushes; had a randomized design; drew participants from a general population without disabilities; provided data regarding plaque and gingivitis; and were at least 28 days in length. The conclusion was that some powered toothbrushes, particularly with a rotation-oscillation action achieved a significant, but modest, reduction in plaque and gingivitis compared with manual toothbrushes. There were six toothbrush categories that were then broken down into trial time: short term (one month through three months) and long term (more than three months). The difference between short term and long term results were essentially identical and although a wide range of plaque and gingivitis reduction among the powered toothbrushes were shown, the rotation-oscillation model was the only type of powered toothbrush to show a measurable advantage. The rotation-oscillation design, where the brush heads rotates in one direction and then the other, showed a plaque reduction of 7% and a gingivitis reduction of 17% when compared to manual toothbrushes. Battery-powered toothbrushes, which tend to be more economical, were excluded from the report because none of the studies featuring them met the inclusion criterion of lasting more than 28 days. Studies on the ability of powered toothbrushes to reduce the prevalence of caries and periodontal disease, as well as a benefit and cost of evaluation are yet to be conducted. In addition, everydayhealth.com claims that powered toothbrushes can also be particularly helpful for patients that have trouble reaching all areas of the mouth. Patients with braces and young children or patients with mental or physical disabilities that have impaired dexterity could also benefit from a powered toothbrush. The thicker handle design is also a plus for older patients that suffer from arthritis and have difficulty grasping the thinner shaft of a manual brush. For first time powered brush users, Gail B. Stoops RDH, BSDH, a Senior Manager of Professional Relations at Philips Sonicare, recommends Philips Sonicare Essence. Stoops said, “A key feature of this brush is its Easy-Start mode that helps patients gradually acclimate to the different in-mouth feel that a power toothbrush delivers, which may be important for people who have otherwise only used manual toothbrushes.” Although a powered toothbrush may not be for every patient or in every patient’s budget, be sure to stress proper brushing techniques and recommend manual brushes that have brush heads and bristles that feature: crisscrossed, extra-long or multi-level bristles; polished or rounded bristle tips; cupped-bristle design for whitening benefits; tapered or angled brush head; gum stimulators and tongue cleaner pads.
References
|
|
Printer Friendly
Email Article
Related Articles
Related Products