Purpose: To compare the efficacy of two powered brushing instruments (Rota-dent, rotary action instrument and Sonicare, a sonic instrument) for reductions of plaque and gingivitis in a treated adult periodontal patient population.
Materials and methods: Forty patients, randomly selected from a pool of patients in periodontal maintenance after surgical periodontal treatment, completed this study. A split mouth, blind, crossover design was utilized in this 12-week trial with each patient acting as his/her own control. After subjects alternately brushed one-half of their mouths with each of the instruments; a crossover in the brushing pattern occurred at 6 weeks, with no wash out period. Single-blind clinical assessments were made by a calibrated investigator at six sites per tooth for contralateral incisors, premolars and molars at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Gingival Index (GI), Plaque Index (PI) and Papillary Bleeding Index (PBI) were determined. A prophylaxis was done for all subjects after baseline recordings.
Results: Mean percent reductions from baseline for GI, PI and PBI at the end of 6 and 12 weeks were 75.0%, 68.9%, 73.4% and 76.4%, 69.9%, 74.0%, respectively for the rotary instrument, and 57.7%, 53.3%, 54.3% and 57.7%, 53.6%, 54.7%, respectively for the sonic brush. One-way ANOVA indicated that the rotary instrument was significantly more effective (P < 0.005) than the sonic brush in removing plaque and reducing gingivitis in treated adult periodontitis patients.