The effect of professional toothcleansing on gingivitis and dental caries in children after 1 year

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of professional mechanical toothcleansing on plaque, gingivitis, and dental caries in young children with a high caries experience. Seventy-eight children, 7 years of age, were stratified according to presence or absence of smooth surface lesions on the permanent teeth and subsequently randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was given a thorough mechanical toothcleansing every 2 weeks. After 12 months a statistically significant difference in plaque accumulation and a minor difference in level of gingival inflammation could be demonstrated between the two groups. The incidence of dental caries in permanent teeth present at both examinations was 70% lower in the experimental group. The effect on permanent teeth erupting during the study and on primary teeth present at both examinations was not statistically significant.