Comparative efficacy of two battery-powered toothbrushes on overnight plaque removal: a single-use clinical study in New Jersey.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this single-use, examiner-blind clinical study, was to evaluate the efficacy of a newly designed Colgate Actibrush (battery-powered toothbrush) relative to the Crest SpinBrush (battery-powered toothbrush) for the removal of supragingival plaque.

METHODOLOGY: This study included the assessment of plaque removal via the comparison of pre- and post-brushing plaque levels. A total of 80 adult male and female subjects from the central New Jersey area reported to the clinical facility for a baseline (pre-brushing) plaque examination after having refrained from all oral hygiene procedures and chewing gum for 24 hours, and from eating, drinking, or smoking for four hours. Subjects were entered into the study and stratified into two balanced groups based on their baseline plaque scores. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth for one minute under supervision with their assigned toothbrush and a commercially available toothpaste (Colgate Cavity Protection Great Regular Flavor Fluoride Toothpaste), after which they were once again evaluated for supragingival plaque (post-brushing).

RESULTS: All 80 subjects complied with the protocol, and completed the single-use clinical study. The subjects assigned to the Colgate Actibrush group exhibited a statistically significant 44.5% greater whole-mouth plaque reduction after a single brushing than did those subjects assigned to the Crest SpinBrush group. Relative to the pre-brushing baseline scores, the Colgate Actibrush group exhibited a statistically significant 63.7% reduction in whole-mouth plaque removal.

CONCLUSION: The results of this single-use, examiner-blind, clinical study support the conclusion that the newly designed Colgate Actibrush provides significantly greater efficacy for the removal of supragingival plaque than does the Crest SpinBrush.