Randomised clinical study of plaque removal efficacy of an electric toothbrush in primary and mixed dentition

BACKGROUND: Clinical investigations of electric toothbrushes in young children are limited. AIM: To assess plaque reduction efficacy of an oscillating‐rotating electric versus manual toothbrush in a paediatric population in primary and mixed dentitions. DESIGN: In this randomised, single‐brushing, 2‐treatment, 4‐period, replicate‐use crossover study, subjects were divided into 2 age groups (3‐6 years; 7‐9 years) and assigned to a treatment sequence involving an Oral‐B Kids electric brush and a manual brush control. Plaque was assessed pre‐ and post‐brushing (Turesky Modified Quigley‐Hein Plaque Index). Parents brushed the teeth of their children aged 3‐6 years, whereas children aged 7‐9 years brushed their own teeth under supervision. Plaque removal scores were analysed for brush differences in each age group separately using an analysis of covariance for crossover design. RESULTS: Forty‐one children (n = 20, 3‐6 years; n = 21, 7‐9 years) completed the study. For the primary dentition in children 3‐6 years, the electric brush reduced 32.3% more plaque than the manual brush (P = .005). For the mixed dentition in children 7‐9 years, the electric brush reduced 51.9% more plaque than the manual brush (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: An electric toothbrush reduced significantly more plaque than a manual toothbrush in 2 paediatric age groups.