Sonic Toothbrush Versus an Oscillating-rotating Toothbrush on Plaque Control and Gingival Health (SONICOR)

June 14, 2026 updated by: Sonia Egido Moreno, University of Barcelona

A Randomized Crossover Clinical Trial Comparing a Sonic Toothbrush Versus an Oscillating-rotating Toothbrush on Plaque Control and Gingival Health

Objective:To evaluate the usefulness of a sonic toothbrush compared to an electric toothbrush for plaque removal and improving gingival health.Patients:Patients over 18 years of age who attend the Master's Degree in Medicine, Surgery and Oral Implantology of the HOUB or other clinical activities of the group cooperating with the study, who comply with the follow-up, and sign the informed consent.Material and method:A randomized clinical trial will be conducted.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study is a single-center, randomized, evaluator-blinded, 2×2 crossover clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness of a sonic toothbrush and an oscillating-rotating powered toothbrush in improving oral hygiene and gingival health in adult participants.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention sequences. Each intervention period will last three weeks and will be separated by a three-week washout period during which standardized oral hygiene measures will be used to minimize potential carryover effects. The total study duration for each participant will be nine weeks.

At baseline and follow-up visits, participants will undergo oral examinations and standardized assessments performed by a trained examiner blinded to the assigned toothbrush. Clinical and salivary measurements will be collected throughout the study according to the protocol schedule. Participants will receive standardized oral hygiene instructions and will be provided with the same fluoridated toothpaste for the entire study period. The use of additional antiseptic oral products or intensive oral hygiene devices will not be permitted during the intervention periods unless clinically indicated.

The study aims to generate updated clinical evidence regarding the comparative performance of two widely used powered-toothbrush technologies under controlled conditions. The crossover design allows each participant to serve as his or her own control, reducing inter-individual variability and increasing the precision of treatment comparisons.

The study will be conducted at the Hospital Odontològic Universitat de Barcelona (HOUB) in accordance with Good Clinical Practice principles, applicable regulatory requirements, and ethical standards for research involving human participants.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
24

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: José López-López, Doctor
  • Phone Number: 0034-606457362
  • Email: jl.lopez@ub.edu

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria Adults aged 18 years or older. Able to perform daily oral hygiene independently. Presence of at least 20 natural teeth and/or implant-supported restorations. Patients attending the Master of Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery and Oral Implantology clinics at the Hospital Odontològic Universitat de Barcelona (HOUB).

Willing and able to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits. Provision of written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Moderate or severe periodontitis requiring immediate treatment. Fixed orthodontic appliances. Use of systemic antibiotics or antiseptic mouthwashes (e.g., chlorhexidine) within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Participants unable to cooperate with study procedures due to psychomotor dysfunction or behavioral disorders.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: sonic toothbrush
Participants will be instructed to brush their teeth twice daily for 2 minutes using the assigned sonic toothbrush. Standardized oral hygiene instructions will be provided at the beginning of the phase
Device: sonic toothbrush
Participants will use a powered sonic toothbrush for 3 weeks as part of a randomized crossover study. Subjects will be instructed to brush twice daily (morning and evening) for 2 minutes using a standardized fluoridated toothpaste provided by the investigators. Standardized oral hygiene instructions will be given at the beginning of each intervention period. No antiseptic mouthwashes or additional intensive oral hygiene devices will be allowed during the study period.
Active Comparator: Oscillating toothbrush
Participants will be instructed to brush their teeth twice daily for 2 minutes using the assigned oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush . Standardized oral hygiene instructions will be provided at the beginning of the phase
Device: sonic toothbrush
Participants will use a powered sonic toothbrush for 3 weeks as part of a randomized crossover study. Subjects will be instructed to brush twice daily (morning and evening) for 2 minutes using a standardized fluoridated toothpaste provided by the investigators. Standardized oral hygiene instructions will be given at the beginning of each intervention period. No antiseptic mouthwashes or additional intensive oral hygiene devices will be allowed during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Plaque Index (O'Leary Plaque Control Record)
Time Frame: Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Change in the percentage of tooth surfaces with dental plaque, assessed using the O'Leary Plaque Control Record. Plaque presence will be recorded on four surfaces of each tooth after application of a plaque-disclosing agent. Results will be expressed as the percentage of surfaces with plaque.
Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gingival Bleeding Index
Time Frame: Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Change in gingival inflammation assessed using the Silness and Löe Gingival Index, based on color changes, edema, and bleeding on probing.
Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Salivary pH
Time Frame: Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Change in salivary pH measured using pH indicator strips applied to unstimulated saliva samples collected under standardized conditions
Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate
Time Frame: Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Change in unstimulated salivary flow rate (mL/min), measured by collecting saliva for 5 minutes in a sterile container.
Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Total Bacterial Load (16S rRNA Quantification)
Time Frame: Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).
Change in total salivary bacterial load determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) quantification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, expressed as copies per mL of saliva.
Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Barcelona

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Hospital Odontològic UB

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 14, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • toothbrush01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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