ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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Title There Is No Evidence That Powered Tooth Brushes Pose Any More of A Threat To Oral Soft Tissue Than Manual Tooth Brushing Techniques in Adults or Children
Clinical Question In adult patients, does brushing with an electric tooth brush show more gingival recession when compared to manual brushing techniques?
Clinical Bottom Line There is no evidence that Powered Toothbrushes pose any more of a threat to oral soft tissue than manual tooth brushing techniques.
Best Evidence (you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link)
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
#1) 20831367Van der Weijden/200935 studies were included in the reviewSystematic Review
Key resultsThis systematic review failed to identify any risk to the hard or soft tissues of the mouth with the use of either a manual toothbrush or powered toothbrush, and no difference in risk of recession between the two techniques.
Evidence Search ("Gingival Recession"[Mesh]) AND manual toothbrush AND powered toothbrush
Comments on
The Evidence
There is a moderate level of validity to this report. The methodology of the review is well done, however there was significant heterogeneity between studies limiting their interpretation. Also, given that recession remained unchanged or improved during the studies suggests that there may have been significant Hawthorne effect evident. The validity of the studies is also limited by potential conflict as 19 of the 35 studies reviewed were commercially sponsored. 10 by Braun/Oral B. 5 by Proctor and Gamble, and 4 by Philips Oral Healthcare. Additionally, there were only two primary studies considered. Both of these studies evaluated changes in recession using a standard clinical probe with 1mm increments and only evaluated for changes over 6 months. Both of these conditions could limit the ability of the studies to detect meaningful differences.
Applicability These data are applicable to daily practice, and this could have an impact a substantial number of the patients that will be seen. As oscillating powered brushes may offer some advantages toward plaque removal, it is important to know if this advantage comes at a cost of increased recession. From this review, this does not appear to be the case. Implementing these brushing techniques may be helpful, but individual needs of the patient must also be considered.
Specialty/Discipline (Public Health) (Oral Medicine/Pathology/Radiology) (General Dentistry) (Oral Surgery) (Pediatric Dentistry) (Periodontics) (Restorative Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene)
Keywords Powered Toothbrush, Gingival Recession, Manual Toothbrush
ID# 2459
Date of submission: 03/06/2013spacer
E-mail wilsoncs@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Chris Wilson
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor/Co-author Thomas Oates, DMD, PhD
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail OATES@uthscsa.edu
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
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None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
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