J Periodontal Implant Sci.  2020 Aug;50(4):251-259. 10.5051/jpis.2001800090.

Effects of an electric toothbrush combined with 3-color light-emitting diodes on antiplaque and bleeding control: a randomized controlled study

• Kwon C
• Lee JM
• Suh JY
• Seo SJ
• Lee Y
• Kim YG

• KMID: 2511787
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5051/jpis.2001800090

Abstract

Purpose
This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of an electric toothbrush with 3 colors of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on antiplaque and bleeding control.
Methods
This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group clinical trial included 50 healthy adults with gingivitis, who were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The experimental group used electric toothbrushes with 3 colors of LEDs and the control group used the same electric toothbrush as the experimental group, but with LED sources with one-hundredth of the strength. The subjects used the electric toothbrush 3 times a day for 4 minutes each time. As clinical indices, bleeding on marginal probing (BOMP), the LöeSilness gingival index (GI), and the Turesky-Quigley-Hein plaque index (QHI) were assessed at baseline, at 3 weeks, and at 6 weeks.
Results
There were significant decreases in all clinical indices (BOMP, GI, QHI) in both the experimental and control groups compared to baseline at 3 weeks and at 6 weeks. In a comparison between the experimental and control groups, no statistically significant differences were observed for any clinical indices at 3 weeks (P>0.05). However, at 6 weeks, statistically significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in BOMP and GI, which are indicators of gingival inflammation (P<0.05).
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that an electric toothbrush combined with 3-color LEDs reduced gingival bleeding and inflammation after 6 weeks.

Keyword

Biofilm; Dental plaque; Gingivitis; Toothbrushing