The Effect of Bristle Brush, Rubber Cup, and Air Polishing on Tooth Surface Roughness of Scaled Teeth

January 6, 2026 updated by: Khyber Medical University Peshawar

The Effect of Bristle Brush, Rubber Cup, and Air Polishing on Tooth Surface Roughness of Scaled Teeth: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study Using Scanning Electron Microscope: Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigates the effects of three polishing methods using a bristle brush, rubber cup, and air polishing on the surface roughness of scaled human teeth. The study aims to determine which polishing method is most effective in minimizing roughness and preventing plaque accumulation, thus contributing to improved oral health practices.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Tooth surface roughness influences plaque retention and periodontal health. Polishing after scaling helps smoothen enamel surfaces, reducing bacterial adhesion. While various studies have assessed polishing techniques, there are inconsistencies in findings, particularly regarding air polishing vs. rubber cup polishing. Additionally, most studies focus on bovine teeth or indirect restorative materials rather than extracted human teeth. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 56 extracted teeth will be divided into four groups: a control group (no polishing) and three experimental groups subjected to different polishing techniques. Surface roughness will be analyzed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). This study aims to fill these research gaps and provide region-specific data by determining which polishing method is most effective in minimizing roughness and preventing plaque accumulation, thus contributing to improved oral health practices.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

56

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
      • Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 25000
        • Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Extracted human teeth with intact buccal or lingual surfaces.
  • Patients with a history of trauma affecting the oral cavity will be eligible, provided they meet other criteria (e.g., intact buccal or lingual surfaces).
  • Male and female patients aged 18 years and above.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Teeth with restorations, caries, fractures, or significant developmental defects (e.g., amelogenesis imperfecta, dentinogenesis imperfecta , fluorosis etc).
  • Patients with systemic disease such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders or any other condition will be excluded.
  • Mentally impaired patient.
  • Patients who have undergone scaling and polishing within the last 3 months.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Bristle Brush Polishing Group
After ultrasonic scaling, teeth will be polished using a bristle brush attached to a low-speed contra-angle handpiece with prophylaxis paste in a circular motion for 10 seconds.
Procedure: Bristle Brush Polishing
After ultrasonic scaling, teeth will be polished using a bristle brush attached to a low-speed contra-angle handpiece with prophylaxis paste in a circular motion for 10 seconds.
Experimental: Rubber Cup Polishing Group
After ultrasonic scaling, teeth will be polished using a rubber cup attached to a low-speed contra-angle handpiece with prophylaxis paste in a circular motion for 10 seconds.
Procedure: Rubber Cup Polishing
After ultrasonic scaling, teeth will be polished using a rubber cup attached to a low-speed contra-angle handpiece with prophylaxis paste in a circular motion for 10 seconds.
Experimental: Air Polishing Group
After ultrasonic scaling, teeth will be polished using sodium bicarbonate air polishing with an air polishing device in a circular motion for 10 seconds.
Procedure: Air Polishing
After ultrasonic scaling, teeth will be polished using sodium bicarbonate air polishing with an air polishing device in a circular motion for 10 seconds.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Teeth in this group will undergo ultrasonic scaling only, with no additional polishing procedures.
Procedure: Ultrasonic Scaling
Teeth in the control group will undergo ultrasonic scaling only, with no additional polishing procedures.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Tooth Surface Roughness
Time Frame: Immediately after intervention (post-polishing SEM analysis).
The arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) and root mean square roughness (Rq) of the enamel surface will be measured using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis and ImageJ software. This will assess the effectiveness of different polishing techniques in reducing surface roughness after ultrasonic scaling.
Immediately after intervention (post-polishing SEM analysis).

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Collaborators

Khyber College of Dentistry (KCD) Peshawar

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Adam Khan, BDS, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar
  • Principal Investigator: Syed Muaz Masoom Shah, BDS,MDS,PHD, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar
  • Principal Investigator: Mehwish Rasool, BDS, Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar
  • Principal Investigator: Syed Muhammad Shabbir Ali Naqvi, PhD*, Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Actual)

April 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 28, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 26, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 26, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 4, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 6, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KMU/DIR/CTU/2024/014

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The study will share de-identified individual participant data (IPD), including surface roughness measurements obtained from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, as well as statistical findings related to different polishing techniques. The shared dataset will help researchers conduct secondary analyses and compare results with similar studies.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

The data will be made available 6 months after the study's completion and will remain accessible for a period of 5 years to facilitate further research.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Access to the data will be granted to qualified researchers upon submission of a formal request that includes a research proposal outlining the intended use of the data. Requests will be reviewed by the study investigators and ethical review committee to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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.

Clinical Trials on Periodontal Diseases

Clinical Trials on Bristle Brush Polishing

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Bangladesh

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe