Effect Of A Single-Tufted Toothbrush On The Control Of Dental Biofilm In Orthodontic Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To compare the effect of a single-tufted toothbrush combined or not with a conventional toothbrush to control dental biofilm in healthy orthodontic patients.Materials and Methods: Twenty orthodontic patients were randomly assigned to receive three different treatments: Group 1-conventional toothbrush; Group 2-single-tufted toothbrush and Group 3-combination of single-tufted and conventional toothbrushes. Stained plaque index (SPI), visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were recorded. The data were analysed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Wilcoxon test was used for intragroup comparison and Friedman test for the intergroup comparison (alpha=5%).Results: Intragroup analysis showed that VPI and SPI significantly decreased (P<0.05) after 72 hour in Group 3. Anterior and posterior teeth did not show any significant statistical differences after 72 hour (P>0.05), but VPI values in the labial surfaces were different to Group 3 (P<0.05) in comparison with the other groups after 72 hour. Group 3 showed a statistically significant reduction (P<0.05) for SPI in the interproximal surfaces when compared with Group 1.Conclusion: The combination of single-tufted and conventional toothbrushes was effective for controlling dental biofilm formation in orthodontic patients.