Efficacy evaluation of manual toothbrushes for dental plaque removal
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Randomised controlled examiner-blind methodology development study to investigate the plaque removal efficacy of Manual toothbrushes in healthy dentate subjects
IRAS ID
266363
Contact name
Iain Chapple
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (UK) Trading Limited
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 7 days
Research summary
Laboratory-based brushing experiments can be used to evaluate the cleaning capability of a toothbrush but are limited in their ability to mimic the oral environment of plaque, saliva and living tissues, and the variability in brushing techniques in the general population.
Clinical evaluation, with people brushing their teeth to remove plaque build up, provides a more realistic assessment of a toothbrush. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of plaque removal of 4 manual toothbrushes currently on the market. The brushes selected have differing bristle types and brush head designs. Participants will be asked to maintain their normal brushing routine (twice a day) while using one of the test brushes for a period of 4 weeks. Plaque levels will be assessed after their first brushing with a study toothbrush and at intervals over the 4 week study, using two different clinical measures of dental plaque.
Data generated from this study will be used to inform the design of future clinical studies investigating the effectiveness of plaque removal by manual toothbrushes for improved oral hygiene. The aim is to develop robust clinical models for the evaluation of new manual toothbrushes.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1173
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion