Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2006;40:60-65 (DOI: 10.1159/000088908)

  Key Words

• Abrasion
• Erosion
• Power/sonic toothbrushes

  Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of eroded enamel to brushing abrasion performed by manual, power or sonic toothbrushes. Bovine enamel samples were subjected to 5 cycles, each consisting of 5 min demineralisation, 15 min remineralisation and 10 min brushing in a machine. Toothbrushing with the activated electric devices was supplemented with 20 linear strokes/min. Furthermore, enamel specimens were brushed with 20 linear strokes/min or 80 linear strokes/min with the electric toothbrushes without their individual operating action. A manual brush was applied at 100, 20 or 80 linear strokes/min. Specimens of the control group were not brushed after demineralisation. Loss of enamel was determined by profilometry. For all groups, substrate loss for linear brushing treatment applying 20 or 80 strokes/min did not differ significantly from the control (4.97 ± 1.49 µm). Three power toothbrushing treatments significantly increased abrasion compared to linear brushing treatment with 20 or 80 strokes/min in their inactivated condition. The results indicate that brushing treatment with power or sonic toothbrushes may lead to significantly higher loss of demineralised enamel compared to toothbrushing without power or sonic support.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Annette Wiegand
Department of Operative Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry and Periodontology
Georg August University Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40
DE-37070 Göttingen (Germany), Tel. +49 551 392844, Fax +49 551 392037
E-Mail Annette.Wiegand@med.uni-goettingen.de

  Article Information

Received: October 29, 2004
Accepted after revision: February 18, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 30