ANTI-PLAQUE AND ANTI-GINGIVITIS EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT BRISTLE STIFFNESS AND END-SHAPE TOOTHBRUSHES ON INTERPROXIMAL SURFACES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of interproximal plaque scores and gingival inflammation reduction of different toothbrush bristle stiffness and end-shape.

Methods: Randomized clinical trials evaluating the effect of different toothbrushes on interproximal plaque/gingivitis reduction, with a minimum follow-up of 1 week. MEDLINE-PubMed, Scopus and Embase were searched. Soft tapered-tip bristle toothbrushes were compared to soft end-rounded, medium (any end-shape), or hard (any end-shape) bristle toothbrushes. Two meta-analyses were performed for plaque and gingivitis reduction. For plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI), a standard mean difference (SMD) and mean difference between baseline and 4 weeks were calculated, respectively. In all analyses, random effect models were used.

Results: Nine studies were included. All included studies demonstrated statistically significant improvement, in at least one parameter, in favor of the tapered-tip bristle toothbrush compared to the end-rounded bristle toothbrush. When analyzing toothbrush stiffness, medium and hard toothbrushes presented significantly higher improvement when compared to soft toothbrushes in all parameters. In the meta-analyses, groups that used soft tapered-tip bristle toothbrushes demonstrated significant greater reductions in PI (SMD -2.64; 95% CI: -4.26 - -1.01) and in GI (MD -0.14; 95% CI: -0.18 - -0.10) when compared to soft end-rounded bristle toothbrushes.

Conclusion: It is concluded that, when considering interproximal surfaces, better results may be expected for tapered-tip bristle toothbrushes when compared to end-rounded bristles toothbrushes. Additionally, better results may be expected in medium or hard toothbrushes, regardless of the bristle end-shape, in non-interproximal cleaners.