Dental Care with Manual Toothbrushes during Fixed Orthodontic Treatment—a New Testing Procedure

AbstractAim: The aim of this investigation was to employ a new in-vitro testing system for manual toothbrushes in order to distinguish the more effective from those less so for dental care during fixed appliance treatment.Materials and Methods: The testing apparatus consisted of a sliding carriage able to execute a horizontal brushing movement, and a row of artificial teeth upon which the various toothbrushes were manipulated. The artificial row of teeth was fixed on a sensor that recorded in all three dimensions the forces and moments caused by the toothbrushes on the toothbrush field. All the tests were executed with a weight of 110 g on a tooth field with a multibracket appliance. Tests were also carried out with five toothbrushes having weights of 200 g, 250 g and 300 g. Here, the decisive target values were 1) the degree of exertion necessary in the brushing direction to move a brush over the artificial teeth, and 2) the maximum force occurring in the brushing direction. High target values indicated high interaction between toothbrush bristles and the surfaces being brushed.Results: From testing five toothbrushes with four different weights, we have established profiles confirming the beneficial and less beneficial properties of certain toothbrushes involving various high contact forces.