Comparing the Inter-dental Brush to Dental Floss

Comparison of Inter-dental Brush to Dental Floss for Reduction of Plaque and Bleeding in Areas With Intact Papilla: A Clinical Trial

The study's purpose is to find an easy and effective alternative to dental floss for those persons who cannot or choose not to dental floss so that they can maintain and/or achieve optimal oral health. The study hypothesis is that the inter-dental brush is as effective as dental floss for removing plaque from between the teeth and for reducing bleeding gums in persons with gingivitis, but may be easier to use and thus encourage daily home use.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gingivitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: IB = Interdental brush, the intervention; Device: DF = Dental floss, the positive control

Detailed Description

Purpose:

To determine if the interdental brush is just as effective at removing plaque and reducing bleeding gums between the teeth as dental floss.

Rationale:

Many people find dental floss difficult to use and thus, do not floss daily to maintain oral health and prevent gum disease. These individuals may find the interdental brush easier to use and may be motivated to use it daily for optimal oral health.

Study design:

Study subjects will use the dental floss AND the interdental brush for 12 weeks. Plaque and bleeding scores will be measured before the study begins (week 0), mid-way (week 6), and at the end of the 12 weeks. All study subjects receive a teeth cleaning prior to the first measurements and oral hygiene instructions on how to floss and use the interdental brush. Subjects will also answer 4 short questions about their product preference and ease of use.

Study subjects:

32 healthy adult volunteers with bleeding gums. To be included in the study, subjects require 8 bleeding sites, 4 areas that can accommodate the interdental brush, dexterity to dental floss, and willingness to come for 4 study visits. Exclusion criteria include smokers because this can affect the bleeding scores; individuals with braces (orthodontia) which affects plaque levels; individuals using chlorhexidine which is a prescription strength mouthwash used to treat moderate to severe gum disease; pregnant women; and those individuals requiring antibiotics prior to dental appointments. Enrolled study subjects receive a teeth cleaning (value $180), $75 for completing the study, and all study related supplies.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 32
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • British Columbia
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z3
      • University of British Columbia Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults
• Minimum of 4 interproximal areas that can accommodate a minimum 0.6 mm interdental brush width
• Minimum of 8 interproximal bleeding sites upon stimulation
• Dexterity to use manual waxed dental floss
• Able to attend all 4 study visits

Exclusion Criteria:

• Require premedication with antibiotics prior to dental therapy
• Use chlorhexidine or over-the-counter mouthwash during the study
• Smoke
• Have orthodontia

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 1; Interdental brush (IB), the intervention is a small multi-tufted brush on a wire attached to a long angled handle that is inserted in a horizontal plane between the teeth. The IB is inserted once and removed.	Device: IB = Interdental brush, the intervention; IB is a small multi-tufted brush on a wire attached to a long angled handle that is inserted in a horizontal plane between the teeth. The IB is inserted once and removed.
Placebo Comparator: 2; Dental floss (DF), the positive control, is waxed dental floss; nylon covered with a water soluble unflavoured wax to facilitate easier access the contact points of teeth. DF is rubbed against the interproximal surfaces of the teeth 2-4 times on each surface.	Device: DF = Dental floss, the positive control; DF is waxed dental floss; nylon covered with a water soluble unflavoured wax to facilitate easier access the contact points of teeth. DF is rubbed against the interproximal surfaces of the teeth 2-4 times on each surface.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Plaque and bleeding reduction	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Product preference between dental floss and interdental brush	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of British Columbia
• Collaborators: Canadian Foundation for Dental Hygiene Research and Education; British Columbia Dental Hygienists' Association (BCDHA); Curaden Swiss
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Pauline Imai, MSc., University of British Columbia; Study Director: Penny Hatzimanolakis, University of British Columbia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 28, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): August 29, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 16, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 12, 2010
• Last Verified: November 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: plaque; interdental self-care aids; bleeding gums
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Stomatognathic Diseases; Periodontal Diseases; Mouth Diseases; Gingival Diseases; Gingivitis
• Other Study ID Numbers: H08-01078