Bioelectric Effect of a Microcurrent Toothbrush on Plaque Removal

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a microcurrent toothbrush (approved by the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA]), which employs a superimposed alternating and direct electric current, named as a Proxywave® technology, similar to the intensity of the biocurrent, in plaque removal and reducing gingivitis by biofilm removal through the bioelectric effect. This study enrolled 40 volunteers with gingivitis. Dental observations were made every two weeks, before and after the use of each toothbrush. We randomly assigned participants into two groups: one group used the Proxywave® toothbrush (PB) for two weeks followed by the control toothbrush (CB) for two weeks, while the other group used the CB for two weeks followed by the PB. The participants had a two-week washout period. If the toothbrush used earlier has had an effect on the bacterial flora in the oral cavity, this is to remove this effect and return it to its previous state. During each dental visit, we recorded plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) scores. The PI and GI scores were significantly lower in both the PB and the CB (p < 0.05). Considering the PI, there was no significant difference between the toothbrushes on all the surfaces. Considering the GI, the PB showed a significant decrease in the interproximal surface, compared to the CB (p < 0.05). The PB showed a significant decrease in the interproximal GI and had a beneficial effect in the interproximal area where the bristles could not reach. No adverse events were observed in the participants during the clinical trial. The microcurrent toothbrush is a device that can be safely used for plaque removal.

Bioelectric Device for Effective Biofilm Inflammation Management of Dental Implant

“…We previously reported a signi cant decrease in the gingival index on the interproximal surfaces, which is an area that is di cult for bristles to reach, in a group that used a toothbrush with bioelectric-microcurrent technology, such as bioelectric current 15 . While previous research focused on the mechanisms of direct or alternating current alone, this technology combines the signals from these two modalities to maximize their effectiveness.…”

Bioelectric device for effective biofilm inflammation management of dental implants

“…This enhanced effect was also significant in natural teeth without metal restorations in previous studies, confirming the bioelectric effect of propagating voltages, currents, and electric fields to weaken the gingival bacterial film. This study included participants who met the criteria for regular maintenance checks and excluded www.nature.com/scientificreports/ those with poor oral hygiene because previous studies have shown that individual differences in brushing ability may have affected the results 16 . The selection of patients with good brushing skills and a longer duration of BE toothbrush use (2 weeks in the previous study and 4 weeks in this study) may have contributed to the significant reductions in mPI and mSBI.…”

“…The electrical input comprised a 0.7 V amplitude sinusoidal AC at a frequency of 10 MHz with 0.7 V of a DC offset. The frequency was selected based on a previous work 15 , 16 , and the DC offset was defined to avoid the electrolysis threshold (below 0.82 V) in bacterial growth media, as summarized in Table 3 . The electrolysis thresholds for water and bacterial growth media are different, and this threshold was chosen because bacterial biofilms were the target of this study.…”

“…Based on this technology, we developed a BE-integrated toothbrush dedicated to cleaning oral biofilms that the bristle cannot reach 15 . The BE enables deep pocket biofilms to propagate through water-based media (salivary) electric current flow 16 .…”

“…Based on this technology, we developed a BE-integrated toothbrush dedicated to cleaning oral biofilms that the bristle cannot reach 15 . The BE enables deep pocket biofilms to propagate through water-based media (salivary) electric current flow 16 .Existing studies have focused on either validating the benefits of electric toothbrushes to a limited extent or presenting the differences between them and regular toothbrushes. However, there is a lack of thorough evaluation and analysis of the effective use of microcurrent toothbrushes, their actual impact on the teeth and gingiva, and user experience.…”