KOL News

The first paper, published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, summarizes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) showing greater plaque removal for the Oral-B Kids O-R electric toothbrush versus a manual toothbrush among two age groups using two different brushing scenarios: 1) 3- to 6-year old children whose parents brushed their primary dentition; and 2) 7- to 9-year old children who brushed their own mixed dentition. The plaque removal benefit for the O-R brush over the manual brush ranged from 26-58% across tooth surfaces in the 3- to 6-year old children and 48-58% among the 7- to 9-year old children.

The second paper was an investigation of 1,000 pediatric charts, demonstrating that children [median age: 4 years, 10 months (range: 2.5–7 years)] using O-R toothbrushes were more likely to present with less plaque, gingivitis, and caries, with 6.0, 5.1, and 1.4 times greater odds of having mild (versus moderate/severe) plaque, less severe gingivitis, and being caries-free, respectively, than manual brush users. Other factors shown to be associated with improved pediatric oral health include a younger starting age for brushing, compliance with twice-daily brushing, and a normal bite relationship. The paper was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

A systematic review and network meta-analysis published by researchers from ACTA compared the effectiveness of electric versus manual toothbrushes in 28 single-brushing studies among adult subjects. A statistically significant difference was found in mean post-brushing scores favoring oscillating-rotating (O-R) electric toothbrushes versus manual toothbrushes. A significant plaque removal benefit was also found for O-R brushes vs high-frequency sonic toothbrushes. The study was published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.

Four papers by researchers at the University of Leeds review the feasibility and acceptance of the “Strong Teeth” pediatric oral health intervention. Current evidence suggests that dental teams need further support, training and resources to have effective oral health discussions with parents of young children. This P&G-sponsored intervention was developed by the University of Leeds to help dental teams undertake behavior change conversations with parents and care givers of children 0-5 years of age.

1. The study protocol was initially published in Pilot and Feasibility Studies.
2. The second paper by Bhatti et al, summarizes qualitative research that found a positive reaction to the “Strong Teeth” program. Parents and the dental team appreciated the resources and the Oral-B electric toothbrush provided as part of the intervention, noting they were easy to implement.
3. The third paper makes practical recommendations for clinical practices to deliver oral health advice based on a qualitative supplementary analysis.
4. The final paper, by Giles et al., summarizes quantitative findings of the early-phase study, which confirm the feasibility and acceptance of the "Strong Teeth" intervention for dental teams and parents of young children.

Smiles for Tomorrow is a free dentalcare.com CE course designed to offer practical pediatric oral health information. It was developed in cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. A child's oral health is an integral part of overall health. This course reviews topics related to evaluation, treatment, and preventive measures - beginning at infancy - to help children achieve and maintain optimal health.

The International Foundation of Dental Hygienists fielded a survey to understand global dental hygienists' practices regarding pediatric patients 6 to 12 years old. Respondents noted that poor plaque control impacts 55% of their pediatric patients. Complete survey results are available as PowerPoint slides on the IFDH website to incorporate in your presentations.

An independent report by The Economist entitled Time to Take Gum Disease Seriously – The Societal & Economic Impact of Periodontitis, covers the economic and human costs of periodontal disease in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. This report takes a unique approach in evaluating the health cost benefits of preventing and treating periodontal disease and associated conditions. The analysis shows billions of Euros can be saved if prevention of gingival inflammation is prioritized over treatment. These findings can be used to influence policy makers to support prevention of periodontal disease and improve oral health. The report was supported by The European Federation of Periodontology and P&G.

Oral hygiene instruction is more important now than ever. This new interactive CE course will provide dental practitioners with strategies to effectively educate patients about oral hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In “Rethink Your Toothbrush Recommendations”, Dr. Greg Asatrian and Dr. Boris Atlas review the literature comparing oscillating-rotating toothbrushes to sonic and manual toothbrushes to help you make evidence-based recommendations.

In “Is Stannous Fluoride the Unicorn of Fluorides?”, Dr. Samuel St. John and Dr. Ward Noble explain why stannous fluoride is such a unique and powerful fluoride based on science.

P&G has partnered with Scientific American and its Custom Media Division to explore the latest research connecting oral health and overall health. As part of the year-long partnership, Oral-B and Scientific American Custom Media are releasing a series of content, including educational resources from leading medical and dental researchers to help readers better understand the connections between oral health and whole body health. Articles cover topics such as:

- the role of plaque biofilm in the progression of periodontal disease and the benefits of prevention via regular oral hygiene

- the influence that microbial communities in the mouth have on our general health

- evidence connecting oral health to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

- how periodontal disease may trigger, and worsen, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and colon cancer