Open AccessEffectiveness of a digital device providing real-time visualized tooth brushing instructions: A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Haruka Shida,
Satoe Okabayashi,
Masami Yoshioka,
Naoko Takase,
Masahiro Nishiura,
Yui Okazawa,
Kosuke Kiyohara,
Manako Konda,
Norihiro Nishioka,
Takashi Kawamura,
Taku Iwami
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0235194
Subject(s) - medicine , randomized controlled trial , dentistry , tooth brushing , toothbrush , surgery , brush , electrical engineering , engineering
The aim of this trial was to investigate whether a digital device that provides real-time visualized brushing instructions would contribute to the removal of dental plaque over usual brushing instructions. Methods We conducted a single-center, parallel-group, stratified permuted block randomized control trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Eligibility criteria included people aged ≥ 18 years, and exclude people who met the following criteria: severely crowded teeth; using interdental cleaning implement; having external injury in the oral cavity, or stomatitis; having less than 20 teeth; using orthodontic apparatus; visited to a dental clinic; having the possibility of consulting a dental clinic; having a dental license; not owning a smartphone or tablet device; smoker; taken antibiotics; pregnant; an allergy to the staining fluid; and employee of Sunstar Inc. All participants received tooth brushing instructions using video materials and were randomly assigned to one of two groups for four weeks: (1) an intervention group who used the digital device, providing real-time visualized instructions by connection with a mobile application; and (2) a control group that used a digital device which only collected their brushing logs. The primary outcome was the change in 6-point method plaque control record (PCR) score of all teeth between baseline and week 4. The t -test was used to compare the two groups in accordance with intention-to-treat principles. Results Among 118 enrolled individuals, 112 participants were eligible for our analyses. The mean of PCR score at week 4 was 45.05% in the intervention group and 49.65% in the control group, and the change of PCR score from baseline was −20.46% in the intervention group and −15.77% in the control group ( p = 0.088, 95% confidence interval −0.70–10.07). Conclusions A digital device providing real-time visualized brushing instructions may be effective for the removal of dental plaque.