"A Clinical
Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of an Iontophoretic Toothbrush in the Removal of
Dental Plaque"
R.L.Van Swol, D.E.Van
Scotter, A.R.Dentino, J.J.Pucher
A
clinical study at Marquette University School of Dentistry has demonstrated the
effectiveness of a manual Hukuba hyG Ionic Toothbrush in unsupervised brushing for six
months. The double-blind study had 64 adult subjects ranging in age from 18 to 67 years.
They were divided into two groups: Group 1, the test group, had 30 subjects using the hyG
Ionic Toothbrush with an active battery. The control group, Group 2, had 34
subjects using the hyG Ionic Toothbrush without an active battery.
The mechanism for the
ionic action is due to a change in the polarity of the teeth. The tooth is normally
negatively charged and the plaque is positively charged. Opposite charges attract and bond
to each other. The plaque, therefore, is attached to the tooth surface by "ionic
bonding".
The hyG toothbrush has a three (3) volt lithium
battery located under the metal band on the handle. The battery is similar to a watch
battery and just as safe. The toothbrush bristles are negatively charged through the metal
rod with the brush head. When holding the metal band on the toothbrush handle with
moistened fingers, the positively charged ions are transferred to the teeth.
The tooth polarity changes from negative to
positive. The positively charged tooth ions repel the positively charged plaque ions. The
positively charged plaque ions are then attracted to the negatively charged bristles of
the hyG toothbrush for removal from the oral cavity.
BEFORE: Opposite polarity makes plaque (+) adhere to teeth (-).
AFTER: hyG temporarily reverses polarity of tooth surface from (-) to (+), repelling
plaque toward negatively polarized hyG toothbrush head.
This important ionic exchange along with the normal
mechanical action of the bristles on the tooth surface enhances plaque removal. Moist
finger contact with the metal band on the hyG toothbrush handle is essential to maximize
ionic transfer of plaque molecules between the teeth and the toothbrush bristles.
R E S U L T S
Plaque scores were determined at baseline, three and six months using the
Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman Index. Likewise, gingival indices were determined using the Loe
Silness Gingival Inflammation Index.
Group 1 (test) showed a 36.17% reduction in plaque from baseline to month
six, compared to only 18.56% for the control group. Improvement in gingival health was
51.87% for the test group and 30.18% for the control group. The average changes in both
plaque and gingival indices were statistically significant for the test group using the
hyG ionic toothbrush with an active battery.
The toothbrushes were identical except for the presence of the active
battery. The ionic action from the three (3) volt lithium battery produced the
significant plaque and gingival changes observed.
The Hukuba hyG Ionic Toothbrush is a safe and effective oral cleansing
device when used unsupervised on a regular basis in the removal of human dental plaque.
PLAQUE REMOVAL EFFECTIVENESS OF hyG TOOTHBRUSH EMPLOYING THE LITHIUM BATTERY
Results:
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Plaque removal. Estimates according to O'Leary's PCR (p<0.01) and PHP
(p<0.05), the efficacies of the lithium battery toothbrush and the control toothbrush
differed significantly.<0.01) and PHP (p<0.05), the efficacies of the lithium battery toothbrush and the control toothbrush differed significantly.
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Improvements in gingivitis. In terms of the PMA index (p<0.05), the lithium
battery toothbrush produced better results than the control toothbrush.<0.05), the lithium battery toothbrush produced better results than the control toothbrush.
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Changes in bacterial levels. No changes in oral microorganism levels were
observed after the experimental period, no matter which kind of toothbrush was used.
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Plaque accumulation compared in terms of caries risk group. In the Low risk
group, no significant differences were observed between the toothbrushes before and after
the experimental period. In the High risk groups, however, the lithium battery toothbrush
removed bacterial plaque more effectively.
1993 study, Maki Y. ET AL., Tokyo Dental College
EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ELECTRONIC TOOTHBRUSH (hyG) ON GINGIVITIS
...Finding suggest that improvements in gingivitis might be expected through
charging gingivital tissue electronically in addition to mechanical plaque removal by
toothbrush itself.
1993 Kasai S. ET AL., Kyushu Dental College
PILOT STUDY TO EVALUATE AN IONTOPHORETIC TOOTHBRUSH TO REMOVE PLAQUE
Results and conclusions:
Both plaque grading methods revealed a percent difference in favor of the
hyG treatment. The six selected tooth surfaces employed in the PHP index support the
conclusion that the hyG brush is superior in plaque removal to an ADA accepted brush
(Butler Gum #440).
1991, Bieswanger, B., DDS, Oral Health Research
Institute
Indiana University School of Dentisty
AN EFFECTIVENESS STUDY OF ELECTRONIC TOOTHBRUSH (hyG) IN PLAQUE REMOVAL
The electronic toothbrush (hyG) was much more effective in plaque removal than the
ordinary toothbrush in all the subjects...The effectiveness of the electronic
toothbrush can be expected even if there are differences in brushing techniques. The most
valuable results in this study were seen at the cervical region...the hardest place to
clean.
1990 Study, Tokyo Dental College
EFFECT OF IONTOPHORETIC TOOTHBRUSH ON PLAQUE REMOVAL
...All thirteen subjects achieved higher plaque removal with the
iontophoretic toothbrush (hyG) than with the ordinary toothbrush with a high
statistical significance of P<0.001. The "hard" bristles of the iontophoretic toothbrush (0.28 MM nylon filament) achieved higher plaque removal than the medium hard (0.23 MM) bristles.
< 0.001. The "hard" bristles of the
iontophoretic toothbrush (0.28 MM nylon filament) achieved higher plaque removal than the
madium hard (0.23 MM) bristles.
1986, Otani, H,. ET AL., Asahi University
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ELECTRO-IONIZING TOOTHBRUSH IN THE CONTROL OF DENTAL
HYPERSENSITIVITY
The object of the investigation was to test the value of the 3M Brand
Electro-Ionizing Toothbrush in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. Eighty-eight
volunteers were divided into three groups, each using different methods: (I) stannous
fluoride dentifrice and 3M brush without a battery; (II) stannous fluoride dentifrice and
3M brush with a 1 1/2 volt battery; (III) strontium chloride dentifrice and 3M brush
without a battery. The volunteers brushed their teeth for 3 minutes twice a day for 12
weeks using one of the three test agents. The subjects were tested at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8,
and 12 by means of a cold water spray quantitated by a temperature probe. All three groups
experienced improvement and by week 12 groups II and III displayed much less sensitivity
than did group I. At the end of 12 weeks the subjects were questioned as to benefit of
treatment. The questionaire revealed that stannous with the ionizing brush provided
significantly greater relief than did the stannous fluoride alone.
J. Periodontal June 1982, P.353-9 issn 0022-3492
Johnson R.H.;Zulgar-Nain BJ; Koval JJ;
J. Peridontal ISSN 0022-3492
EFFECT OF IONTOPHORETIC TOOTHBRUSH ON CERVICAL HYPERSENSITIVITY
The following results were obtained:
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The clinical effect (reduced hypersensitivity) of the iontophoretic was significantly
different from the placebo group after two weeks (P<0.01) and it was a highly
significant difference (P<0.001) after six weeks. In the active group the reduction in
sensitivity after six weeks was shown to be 60.6% and in the placebo group 25.4%.<0.01) and it was a highly significant difference (P<0.001) after six weeks. In the active group the reduction in sensitivity after six weeks was shown to be 60.6% and in the placebo group 25.4%.
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50.1% of the initially sensitive teeth had lost all sensitivity after
six weeks.
No side effects of this iontophoretic toothbrush were observed.
On the basis of the above facts, it is concluded that an iontophoretic
toothbrush used with a fluoride dentifrice is highly effective in cervical
hypersensitivity. Accordingly, the use of an iontophoretic toothbrush is a simple and
available method for home dental care.
... iontophoresis is indeed highly effective.
... This technique has no equal in relieving dental hypersensitivity.
1979, Ota, N., et al.,Matsumoto Dental College
HYPERSENSITIVITY CONTROLLED BY IONTOPHORESIS
Collins found an 87.5% decrease in hypersensitivity in his active group
and a 22.8% decrease in the control group.
Producing iontophoresis of fluorides in daily oral hygiene by the
use of an electronically charged toothbrush could open the way to even greater benefits
from the use of fluorides in dentistry. Since it has been shown previously that topical
fluoride has a certain, although limited, effectiveness in alleviating hypersensitivity,
the increase of effectiveness under the influence of an electronically charged toothbrush
is suggestive evidence that this device increases the deposition of fluoride on, or
within, the tooth.
From available evidence it seems unlikely that fluoride would reach the
pulp in sufficient quantities to have any adverse effect.
. . . pathological studies of tooth pulps after iontophoresis of fluoride
have been described in two recent reports.
. . . all pulps were regenerated completely histologically.
. . . histological examinations revealed no evidence of any permanent pulp
damage.
. . . enamel pore wall is negatively charged . . . facilitating the
penetration of positively charged ions (cations) and resisting the penetration of negatively
charged ions (anions). Thus, the penetration of fluoride, which is the most
negative ion normally is resisted by the enamel.
The fact that similar charges repel and opposites attract . . . if the
negative charge of the enamel is temporarily reversed to positive the amount and depth of
penetration of negative ions (fluorine) is facilitated.
. . . a majority of subjects in the active group reported a new feeling of
cleanliness in their mouth, similar to having their teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist.
. . . various other oral processes may be affected, such as the deposit of
calculus.
. . . use of an iontophoretic toothbrush resulted in the removal of
protein matrix and free calcium adhering around the teeth, and the removal of putrefied
matter coming from inflammation.
. . . no undesirable side effects were noted after two years of continued
routine use.
1964, Jensen, A. L., University of California,
College of Dentistry
DESENSITIZATION OF HYPERSENSITIVE TEETH
The teeth can be charged with a positive
electrical potential by means of a battery while fluoride is being applied. Since fluorine
is the most negative of all ions, iontophoresis may be employed as a practical method to
increase penetration or deposition of fluoride in the dental enamel and dentine.
. . . an (electrical) potential low enough to be
considered safe for continued use.
. . . electrical potential of the magnitude
delivered by the iontophoretic toothbrush appears to be safe for daily use. Lefkowitz
reported using a potential five hundred times greater . . . than supplied by the brush
without damage to the pulp. There was no apparent damage to the soft or hard tissue of the
oral cavity.
Home care . . an affective
treatment by simply brushing teeth with a fluoride dentifrice and an iontophoretic
toothbrush.
. . . an exceedingly potent
therapeutic means of relieving hypersensitivity.
1962, Collins E.M.,
Loma Linda University, College of Dentistry |
