EFFECT OF ROTARY ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH VERSUS MANUAL TOOTHBRUSH ON DECALCIFICATION DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether daily use of a rotary electric toothbrush (Rotadent, Prodentec Corp., Batesville, Ark.) and a 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) rinse would significantly reduce decalcification when compared with manual toothbrushing only (control group) or manual toothbrushing and daily use of a NaF rinse (rinse group). All three groups used a standard fluoride toothpaste. Ninety consecutive adolescent patients who were to receive orthodontic treatment were placed into one of three groups according to age and sex criteria. Decalcification was evaluated single blind by two calibrated examiners on the facial surfaces of all permanent teeth before appliances were placed (baseline) and 3 months after appliances were removed (posttreatment). Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance with the dependent variable derived by subtracting the baseline decalcification scores from the posttreatment scores and using the baseline scores as the covariate. The results showed that although there were no significant differences between the three groups at baseline, the Rota-dent group showed significantly (p < 0.05) less posttreatment decalcification than either the control or rinse groups. In a separate analysis of first molars, the Rotadent group again showed the least decalcification and the control group showed the most. These data suggest that twice daily use of the Rota-dent electric toothbrush with a standard fluoride toothpaste and once daily use of a 0.05% NaF rinse is more effective for preventing decalcification in adolescents during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances than either conventional toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste, or similar toothbrushing and toothpaste with a once daily NaF rinse.