The effectiveness of a rotary electric toothbrush on oral cleanliness in adults.

The effectiveness of an electric toothbrush (Rota-dent), which in design and mode of action resembles the rotating instruments used by professionals in tooth cleaning, was assessed. 40 adult periodontal patients were divided into 2 groups matched with regard to oral cleanliness: an electric toothbrush group (EB) comprising 20 patients who received an electric toothbrush as well as instruction in it's use by a dental hygienist; a control group (CO) comprising 20 patients who were provided with an oral hygiene kit containing a conventional toothbrush, an interspace brush, toothpicks, disclosing tablets and a lighted mouth mirror and who received the oral hygiene instruction by means of a self-teaching manual. All patients received professional mechanical tooth cleaning 1 week prior to the instruction. At a 3-week follow-up session, additional instruction was given by a dental hygienist according to needs. The presence or absence of dento-gingival plaque after disclosing with the Plak-lite system and gingival bleeding by gentle probing was recorded on 4 tooth surfaces of all teeth, initially and after 3 months. The findings showed a similar improvement in the status of oral hygiene in both groups, indicating that in the hands of the patients, the electric toothbrush was just as effective as the comprehensive oral hygiene kit.