Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate in 4- to 7-year-olds the efficacy of plaque removal of 2 toothbrushes: (1) the Philips Sonicare for Kids (SFK) power toothbrush with 2 amplitude settings (A and B); and (2) the Oral-B Stages 3 toothbrush (MTB).
Methods: Sixty-eight children participated in a single-masked, randomized, split-mouth study. Only subjects with a Quigley Hein plaque index (modified by Turesky et al.; TQHI) of more than 1.8 were enrolled. Subjects were randomized to SFK A (low amplitude, 7°), SFK B (high amplitude, 9°), or MTB by quadrant and brushed by a dental hygienist. TQHI was scored at 1- and 2-minute intervals by quadrant by a masked examiner. Multivariate analysis of variances for a split-mouth design was applied, and P-values were adjusted using Dunnett-Hsu modification.
Results: Mean baseline TQHI(+SD) scores were 2.89+0.06, 2.96+0.07, and 2.89+0.05 for SFK A, SFK B, and MTB, respectively. Adjusted mean postbrushing overall percent reductions for SFK A, SFK B, and MTB were 41%, 42%, and 29% at 1 minute and 67%, 65% and 49% at 2 minutes, respectively. Differences between both SFK and MTB were statistically significant.
Conclusions: The Philips SFK removed significantly more plaque than the Oral-B Stages 3 toothbrush at 1- and 2-minute intervals with professional brushing assistance in 4- to 7-year-old subjects.