Clinically controlled trial of plaque

reduction and inflammation control of

Gingiva with the ultrasonic toothbrush emmi^®-dent

Executive Summary

Witten  2011

 

ORMED Institute for Oral Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke

Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. P. Gängler

Dr. Tomas Lang

Study dentist: Sigrun Charlotte Denda

Sponsored by: EMAG AG, 64546 Mörfelden-Walldorf

 

Executive Summary

Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the two major bacterial diseases of the oral cavity, and they are still highly prevalent. Besides
microbiologic, immunologic and genetic factors of resistance to these infections, the personal oral hygiene using tooth brushes and fluoride
containing dentifrices represents the most important tool of prevention. However, the long-lasting use of abrasive brushes and pastes leads to the real risk of combined erosive-abrasive lesions of teeth and gums.
Therefore, the evaluation of alternative bio-physical methods for nonabrasive reduction of bacterial biofilms on teeth is of great clinical
importance. The generation of ultrasound in a selected frequency is in this sense a plausible approach.

Therefore, the efficacy of plaque control was assessed in a clinically controlled study using the ultrasonic toothbrush Emmi^®-dental
Professional (EMAG AG, Mörfelden- Walldorf) on 16 subjects aged 20 to 34 years. The reduction of dental plaque on all sites of teeth was
intraorally photo-documented and blinded assessed using a modified Planimetrical Navy-Plaque-Index. Gingival health was clinically also
assessed an all sites of teeth by the Gingiva Index. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Witten/ Herdecke,
and the subjects signed a written consent.

The study protocol for 28 days started with professional meticulous tooth cleaning, a 4-day training period, another 3-day plaque-regrowth, and the
follow-up was documented after 7 and 21 days. The ultrasonic toothbrush was according to the manufacturer (Emmi^®-dental) exclusively ultrasound activated.
This is, therefore, the first pure ultrasound study, because all other studies included in the meta-analysis of the Cochrane Reports 2005 and
2010 deal with combined sound/ ultrasound devices.

The test toothbrush Emmi^®-dental Professional demonstrated a well pronounced reduction of plaque after 4 training days and a 3-day
plaque-regrowth period in all 16 subjects according to the cross-over protocol. This plaque reduction on all sites of teeth after one
single toothbrushing was measured with more than 20% compared to the non-cleaned teeth. During follow-up for 7 and 21 days, the area free of
plaque was kept by 45%.
The plaque reduction was better at the front teeth compared to the 5 posterior teeth. Maxillary and mandibular teeth were equally well
cleaned. The assessment of plaque control along the gum line and between the teeth demonstrated a clear reduction of plaque at this high
risk areas.

The parallel assessment of gingival health using the Gingiva Index demonstrated extremely low scores over the whole study period
indicating that most sites were free of inflammation. Therefore, the tooth brush is contributing to gingival health.
According to the Cochrane Reviews of 2005 and 2010, meta-analyzing different powered toothbrushes for plaque control and gingival health,
ultrasonic toothbrushes tested so far were combined sound/ ultrasound models. Therefore, the results presented in this Executive Summary are
unique, demonstrating effective plaque removal and tooth cleaning ability of the powered ultrasonic toothbrush. The most important advantage of
this powered toothbrush is the non-abrasive movement over the tooth groups to exclude any abrasive risk for teeth and gums when in permanent use. This is a completely new biophysical dimension of effective tooth cleaning and control of the bacterial biofilms with no brushing action at all.

 

Clinical conclusion

The tested exclusively ultrasound-activated toothbrush Emmi^®-dental Professional is effective in plaque reduction. The ultrasonic toothbrush
contributes to gingival health and avoids completely abrasive brush movements. Therefore, the risk of abrasive lesions on teeth and gums is
excluded.

 

Original-PDF of the study        Here you will find the scientific study