Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Dental Plaque Removal Between Manual and Powered Toothbrushes in Individuals With Syndactyly.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of dental plaque removal between manual and powered toothbrushes in individuals with syndactyly.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Seventeen patients with Apert syndrome aged 11 to 30 years. The efficacy of toothbrushing was evaluated by the O'Leary plaque index at 2 periods: initial (before toothbrushing) and final (immediately after toothbrushing), using manual toothbrush (Colgate Twister) and powered toothbrush (Colgate Actibrush). Means were compared by the ANOVA test at a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

The reduction in the plaque index was different for each type of toothbrush (interaction factor between manual and powered toothbrushes and initial and final periods, P = 0.026). The powered toothbrush provided greater reduction of dental plaque than the manual toothbrush.

CONCLUSION

In individuals with syndactyly, both manual and powered toothbrushes allowed significant plaque reduction on tooth surfaces; however, the powered toothbrush exhibited greater efficacy of plaque removal compared with the manual toothbrush.