ABSTRACT
The ability of a novel integrated power toothbrush and liquid-toothpaste dispensing system, the IntelliClean System from Sonicare and Crest, to remove interproximal biofilm while being gentle on dentin was studied using two in vitro models. Interproximal biofilm removal was assessed via a complex multispecies biofilm grown on hydroxyapatite disks and then placed interproximally in a typodont section modeling a typical oral environment. The power toothbrush in the prototype integrated system was compared to a traditional rotating/oscillating power toothbrush, the Oral-B ProfessionalCare 7000, and a nonbrushing control through a series of 3 experiments with a total of 36 replicates per arm. The amount of interproximal plaque biofilm removed by the integrated system toothbrush was significantly greater than that removed by the rotating/oscillating toothbrush and by the nonbrushing control (P < .05). In the second model, dentin substrate wear was measured using profilometry after the brushing of dentin sections (3 mm x 10 mm) for a period equivalent to 2 years of typical product use. Dentin wear associated with the use of the prototype integrated system with standard and whitening versions of the liquid toothpaste was compared to that of a rotating/oscillating power toothbrush and a manual toothbrush with the standard version of the prototype liquid toothpaste, with a total of 12 replicates per arm. The amount of dentin wear induced by the integrated system with either the standard or whitening liquid toothpaste was significantly less than the wear from the rotating/oscillating power toothbrush and the manual toothbrush with the standard liquid toothpaste (P < .05).
