Three laboratory assessments of a new triple-head toothbrush and the Oral-B 40 toothbrush.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this series of laboratory studies was to assess a new triple-head toothbrush, the DR BEST FreiKopf, compared to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush, for interproximal access efficacy (IAE), gingival margin cleaning (GMC), and subgingival access (SA) as measures of toothbrush efficacy. METHODOLOGY: In each procedure, six toothbrushes of each product were tested four times for a total of twenty-four tests on each toothbrush design. In the IAE assay, the tooth brushing technique involved independent evaluations of each toothbrush in a vertical or horizontal brushing motion, tooth shapes simulating anterior and posterior teeth, and a brushing weight of 250 g. The brushing apparatus was set to brush 15 seconds at two strokes per second with a 50 mm stroke. In the GMC assay, the tooth brushing technique involved independent evaluations of each toothbrush in a horizontal brushing motion, tooth shapes simulating posterior teeth, and a brushing weight of 500 g. Simulated gingivae were prepared from self-curing dental acrylic. The brushing apparatus was set to brush for 60 seconds at two strokes per second with a 15 mm stroke. In the SA evaluations, the tooth shapes simulating posterior teeth were used, as well as a brushing weight of 500 g for 60 seconds at two strokes per second with a 15 mm stroke. All readings were measured with 3x magnification by one investigator. RESULTS: The mean IAE value on anterior and posterior tooth shapes, with vertical and horizontal brushing, and overall, was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for the triple-head toothbrush than for the Oral-B 40 toothbrush. In the GMC assay, the triple-head toothbrush had a significantly (p < 0.001) superior mean value compared to the Oral-B 40 product tested. In the SA study, the triple-head toothbrush was significantly (p < 0.001) superior compared to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush product tested. CONCLUSIONS: The triple-head toothbrush has demonstrated superiority to a traditional flat-head toothbrush for access into interproximal areas, and for removing deposits from the gingival margin, as well as below the gumline, in these laboratory assays.