Comparative Evaluation of Different Mechanical Plaque Control Methods in patients undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Therapy: A RetrospectiveStudy

Abstract

Aim:To retrospectively evaluatethree commercially availablemechanical plaque control methods in patients
undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy. It was a comparative study which involved assessment of efficiencies of three
tooth brushes those specially designed for orthodontic purpose.
Materials and Methods: Total 30 patients (age range 14 to 24) were studied in which 16 were females and 14 were
males. Patients were studied into three groups of ten each as per three commercially available orthodontic brushes.
Group one patients used Oral B Orthodontic toothbrush. Group two patients used Thermoseal Ortho Brush. Group
three patients used Colgate Slim Soft Ortho Toothbrush. The horizontal scrub method was shown to all patients to
clean their teeth for 2 minutes for at least twice a day. Evaluation of plaque control and efficiency of particular
brushing system was done by estimating plaque index and gingival index. All patients were evaluated for these
indexes after one month, two months and three months of brushing.
Results: Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). After one month of
brushing with Oral B Orthodontic toothbrush, mean plaque index was 0.411 ± 0.023. After two months it was 0.352
± 0.026 and after three months of brushing it was 0.281 ± 0.012. P value was significant for evaluation after three
months in group 1. After one month of brushing with Thermoseal Ortho Brush, mean plaque index was 0.465 ±
0.021. After one month of brushing with Colgate Slim Soft Ortho Toothbrush, mean plaque index was 0.235 ±
0.024. After two months it was 0.184 ± 0.010 and after three months of brushing it was 0.109 ± 0.013.
Conclusion: Authors stated that all three brushing systems were effective in plaque control and maintaining gingival
health however, Colgate Slim Soft Ortho Toothbrush was identified as most efficient amongst all three tested
systems for reducing plaque and maintaining optimal gingival health in orthodontic patients.