The Effect of Different Electric Toothbrush Technologies on Interdental Plaque Removal. A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The removal of dental plaque from the gingival margins of teeth is essential to maintain periodontal health. Whilst it has been established that the electric toothbrush demonstrates a greater ability to remove plaque, no systematic review has specifically investigated which technology is better for removing plaque from the interdental tooth surfaces, where plaque control may be more difficult. Three databases were searched up to October 2023: MEDLINE, DOSSS via EBSCO host and Embase. Data extraction was carried out on studies which met the inclusion criteria, and a risk of bias assessment was completed. The study findings were combined via a narrative synthesis and a meta-analysis where appropriate. Seventy-seven studies were found, out of which 14 were selected and included for the analysis. The mean difference in interproximal plaque reduction, measured using the Rustogi Modified Naval Plaque Index (RMNPI) at 8 weeks was 0.09 (p<0.00001) in favor of the oscillating-rotating toothbrush. At 6 and 12 weeks, the mean difference in plaque reduction
(RMNPI) was 0.05 (p=0.0008) and 0.04 (p=0.0001) in favor of the oscillating-rotating toothbrush, respectively. The studies show a tendency for oscillating-rotating toothbrushes to remove more interproximal plaque than oscillating toothbrushes especially in a short time (8 weeks).