Disclosure Statement • This course was designed, developed and produced by Waterpik Technologies • Waterpik Technologies manufactures and distributes products addressed in this course Course Objective To provide the dental team with the information and criteria needed to assist individuals in selecting a power toothbrush appropriate to need • Poor plaque (biofilm) control • Gingivitis • Periodontal maintenance • Orthodontic appliances • Implants • Aesthetic restorations • Crowns and bridges • Physically c
From the final review, the Cochrane group determined that “Power toothbrushes with a rotational oscillation action provided slightly better plaque removal and may provide better protection against gum inflammation than manual toothbrushes.”5 The researchers discussed the weaknesses of their review and noted:5 • “One possible weakness of this review was the grouping of toothbrushes by their modes of action.
While the thoroughness of brushing is dependent on the nature of the user, power brushes may help simplify the brushing process. The individual will still need to properly angle the brush in the mouth, but once in place, the brush head motion will do all the work. Since a power brush generates more strokes per minute than a manual brush, the individual may remove more biofilm in the same amount of brushing time.
• MacNeill et al found that sonic energy from the SenSonic® toothbrush severely shortened and/or removed fimbriae from the cell walls of A viscosus. The researchers observed that these study findings were consistent with previous studies on other sonic brushes that have examined the effect of sonic energy on bacteria.
Product Comparison: High Speed Power Brushes* Parent company Brush stroke Brush stroke per minute Speeds Timer 30 second quadrant alert Brush heads/accessories Promotional price Direct professional pricing Clinically proven better than a manual brush at reducing: • Plaque • Gingivitis/bleeding • Stain SynchroSonic™ Plus Advanced Action Sonic Plaque Removal System - Model DT 400 Waterpik Technologies Randomized (sonic) 40,000 2 2 minute Yes 2 brush heads 1 tongue cleaner 1 polisher $24.
Post Test for Course #03-03 Power Brushes: An Effective Alternative 1. What features may influence individual preference for a power brush? a) Timer b) Handle size c) Brush head configuration d) All of the above 2. Which type of individual would NOT be a candidate for a power brush? a) Orthodontic b) Periodontal maintenance c) Edentulous d) Physically challenged 3.
Obtaining Continuing Education Credits Waterpik Technologies is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing education programs of this provider are accepted by the AGD for Fellowship, Mastership, and membership maintenance credits. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial board of dentistry. The current term of approval extends from 04-05-1998-05-31-2006.
