Cleansing efficacy of the electric toothbrush Oral-B® iO™ compared to conventional oscillating-rotating technology: a randomized-controlled study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the cleansing efficacy of the Oral-B^® iO™ electric toothbrush incorporating oscillating-rotating technology with microvibrations - with a traditional oscillating-rotating toothbrush.

Materials and methods: Thirty adult participants were randomly assigned to use the iO™ electric toothbrush with the brush head iO™ Ultimate Clean or the traditional oscillating-rotating toothbrush Oral-B^® Genius^® with the Cross-Action brush head. Oral hygiene indices (Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index and Gingival Bleeding Index) were assessed before and after 28 days of home use of the assigned product. Participants were instructed to refrain from interdental hygiene during the study period. After a 2-week washout period, the clinical investigation was repeated in a crossover design.

Results: All 30 participants completed the study with no dropouts. After 28 days of use, the iO™ showed statistically significantly lower plaque levels than the conventional oscillating-rotating toothbrush (25.09% vs. 30.60%, p = 0.029). This difference was particularly noticeable in marginal and approximal areas. There were no significant distinctions in gingival bleeding indices.

Conclusions: The Oral-B^® iO™ electric toothbrush displayed enhanced plaque removal efficiency compared to a conventional oscillating-rotating technology.

Clinical relevance: This study highlights the potential benefits of advanced toothbrush technologies for plaque reduction and encourages further research.

Keywords: Biofilm; Oral hygiene; Plaque reduction; Powered toothbrush.

Fig. 1

Brush heads of oscillating-rotating toothbrushes used in the present study. (a) The control product was the Oral-B^® Cross Action brush head with angled bristles. The bristle tufts of the two outer tings are alternately of different lengths with a height difference of 1 mm. (b) The test product was the “Oral-B^® iO™ Ultimate Clean toothbrush head” with a 2 mm increased diameter and Criss Cross bristles. The bristle field is slightly concave, sloping toward the center

Fig. 2

Visual outline of the study design. Thirty adult participants were randomly assigned to use the iO™ electric toothbrush with the brush head iO™ Ultimate Clean or the traditional oscillating-rotating toothbrush Oral-B^® Genius^® with the Cross-Action brush head in a crossover design. Oral hygiene indices (Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI)) were assessed before and after 28 days of home use of the assigned product. Participants were instructed to refrain from interdental hygiene and the use of any chemical rinsing solution during the study period. After a 2-week washout period, the clinical investigation was repeated with the other product

Fig. 3

Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index after 28 days of home use. The Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index splits every buccal and lingual tooth surface into nine sections (A–I) and was calculated as a percentage of biofilm adhering sites to measured sites. The iO™ brush head showed statistically significantly lower plaque levels after 28 days of home use compared to the conventional oscillating-rotating toothbrush with the Cross-Action brush head (control) for full-mouth data (p = 0.019), approximal buccal sites (p < 0.001), marginal lingual/palatal (p < 0.001) and for marginal buccal sites (p = 0.027). The asterisk indicates statistically significant differences