RT Journal Article
T1 Plaque removal efficacy of a new toothbrush with a double-sided head and rotating handle-a pilot randomized control trial in acquired brain injury patients
A1 García Mato, Eliane
A1 Sande López, Lucía
A1 Diniz Freitas, Márcio
A1 Abeleira Pazos, María Teresa
A1 Limeres Posse, Jacobo
A1 Diz Dios, Pedro
A1 Rivas Mundiña, Berta
K1 Toothbrush
K1 Dental plaque
K1 Ergonomics
K1 Acquired brain injury
AB Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a new toothbrush (Balene) for the mechanical removal of dental plaque in patients with acquired brain injury.Material and methods: The study group consisted of 25 adults with acquired brain injury. The participants underwent 2 sessions of toothbrushing lasting 1 min, one with a conventional toothbrush and the other with the Balene toothbrush. This new double-headed toothbrush has 6 active sides, which allows for the simultaneous toothbrushing of both alveolar arches, with elastomer bristles angled at 45°, as well a handle that rotates up to 180°. Therefore, the user does not need to remove the toothbrush from the oral cavity during the toothbrushing process. Dental plaque accumulation was assessed using the simplified oral hygiene index of Greene and Vermillion.Results: The plaque index was significantly reduced both with the Balene toothbrush (p < 0.001) and with the conventional toothbrush (p < 0.001). The dental plaque removal efficacy was similar with the two toothbrushes. There were also no statistically significant differences in the removal of plaque with the Balene toothbrush between the autonomous and assisted toothbrushing modalities (p = 0.345).Conclusions: For patients with acquired brain injury, the Balene toothbrush was as effective as a conventional toothbrush, regardless of whether the toothbrushing modality was autonomous or assisted.Clinical relevance: The Balene® toothbrush's efficacy in removing dental plaque is similar to that of conventional toothbrushes, both with the autonomous and assisted toothbrushing modality. Given its particular ergonomics, this toothbrush could be indicated for certain select patients with acquired brain injury (i.e., those whose degree of cooperation allows for toothbrushing, with a sufficient mouth opening, with no substantial abnormalities in the intermaxillary relationship, and with no significant edentulous sections)
PB Springer
SN 1432-6981
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/30864
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/30864
LA eng
NO Mato EG, López LS, Freitas MD, Pazos MTA, Posse JL, Dios PD, Mundiña BR. Plaque removal efficacy of a new toothbrush with a double-sided head and rotating handle-a pilot randomized control trial in acquired brain injury patients. Clin Oral Investig. 2023 Jun 30. doi: 10.1007/s00784-023-05106-y. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37389693.
NO Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature
DS Minerva
RD 23 abr 2026