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Cleaning efficacy of triangular interdental brushes
Wolff D, Joerss D, Raeth O, Pioch T, Dörfer CE. J Dent Res 83 (2004),
special issue A, (abstr 2433)
Aim
To evaluate the cleaning efficacy of triangular interdental brushes versus
round interdental brushes in an in-vitro model
Trial conditions
Products under investigation
1. Prototypes of the triangular elmex® Interdental Brush, size 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8
2. Four different brands of round interdental brushes in different sizes
Test sites
Interdental spaces of extracted human teeth of different sizes and shapes
Methodology
Digital image substraction of dyed approximal tooth surfaces before and
after cleaning with the different interdental brushes. Measurement of the
force needed to insert the interdental brush.
Trial
16 extracted natural human teeth were fixed in a socket and matched to
pairs in a reversible and reproducible manner, simulating two types of
triangular interdental spaces with 4 different sizes, each. During separation,
the proximal tooth surfaces were covered with a dye indicator to simulate
plaque. After registering the baseline situation with a digital camera and a
highly reproducible geometrical setup the teeth were relocated in their
contact position. The interdental spaces were cleaned with the different
interdental brushes in a standardized manner followed by digital imaging.
The cleaning efficacy was quantified and related to the total proximal tooth
surface by digital image subtraction and pixel count of the cleaned area.
The same interdental spaces were used to measure the forces necessary
for insertion of the interdental brushes.
Results
In x-small and small interdental spaces, triangular brushes had a statistically
significant higher cleaning efficacy compared to different round interdental
brushes. (in the graphs indicated as IDB1 (=brand 1), IDB2 (=brand 2), IDB3
(=brand 3) and IDB4 (=brand 4)). In the larger interdental spaces the
cleaning efficacy of the tested triangular and round interdental brushes
was similar.
Relative Cleaning Efficacy of different interdental
brushes in x-small interdental spaces
Cleaning Efficacy [%]
Adapted from Wolff et al. 2004
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
2.0
4.0
3.0
5.0
4
5
1.9
2.4
2.2
2.5
0
x-small
elmex
elmex
®
®
IDB 1
IDB 2
IDB 3
IDB 4
Relative Cleaning Efficacy of different interdental
brushes in small interdental spaces
Cleaning Efficacy [%]
Adapted from Wolff et al. 2004
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
3.0
5.0
4.0
6.0
5
6
10
2.8
3.1
3.5
2.5
0
small
elmex
®
elmex
®
IDB 1
IDB 2
IDB 3
IDB 4
Fig. 1,2: Comparison of Cleaning Efficacy of the triangular shaped elmex® Interdental Brush with
four different brands (IDB1, IDB2, IDB3, IDB4) of conventional round interdental brushes in x-small
and small spaces. The diameter of the brushes in mm (elmex® Interdental Brush: inner and outer
diameter) is indicated in the graph.
Cleaning Efficacy is the ratio of cleaned interdental area to the whole interdental area.
Besides, in x-small and small interdental spaces triangular brushes showed
a more favourable ratio between relative cleaning efficacy and resistance
to insertion than conventional round interdental brushes. They penetrated
more easily the interdental space as consequence of their cross-section.
Conclusions
better cleaning efficacy/handling relationship than standard round interdental brushes.
GABA International AG
Emil Frey-Strasse 100
CH-4142 Münchenstein, Switzerland
www.gaba.com
10/04
The tested prototypes of the triangular elmex® Interdental Brushes show a

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