Comparison of Plaque Removal Efficacy with Powered and Manual Toothbrushes in 10–14-year-old Visually and Auditory Impaired Children: A Randomized Controlled Study

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To compare dental plaque removal efficacy with a manual and powered toothbrush in 10–14 years old visually and auditory impaired children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The proposed study was a randomized controlled study. The ethical approval was obtained from the institutional ethical board. The written informed consent for the study was taken from the parents. The 60 participants were categorized into group I: visually impaired (30) and group II: speech and hearing impaired (30) which were again divided into I1 (manual toothbrush) and I2 (powered toothbrush); II1 (manual toothbrush) and II2 (powered toothbrush), respectively. The baseline score was recorded using Turesky–Gilmor–Glickman Modification of The Quigley–Hein plaque Index. The oral prophylaxis was performed and then randomization of the toothbrush group was done with concealed allocation method. The plaque-removal efficacy was evaluated at the end of the 15 days in the visually and hearing-impaired children. RESULTS: The mean score of dental plaque at baseline was 1.44 for the manual toothbrush group and 1.65 for the powered toothbrush group in visually impaired children, respectively. In blind children with a manual toothbrush, the mean score difference was 0.14 while the powered toothbrush showed the mean score difference of 0.30 which is significant. The mean score of dental plaque at baseline was 1.74 for the manual toothbrush group and 1.80 for the powered toothbrush group in auditory impaired children. In auditory impaired children with manual toothbrushes, the mean score difference was 0.15 while the powered toothbrush showed the mean score of 0.32 which was significant. CONCLUSION: Dental plaque reduction was significantly better with the powered toothbrush as compared to a manual toothbrush in visually and auditory impaired children. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Patel NG, Bargale S, Shah S, et al. Comparison of Plaque Removal Efficacy with Powered and Manual Toothbrushes in 10–14-year-old Visually and Auditory Impaired Children: A Randomized Controlled Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(3):364–368.