Abstract
The research “Introducing the Oral-B iO electric toothbrush: next generation oscillating-rotating technology” was conducted in 2020 by Ralf Adam, a researcher with Procter & Gamble Service GmbH in Kronberg, Germany. The purpose of his study was to discuss the mechanism of the novel Oral-B toothbrush, and how this mechanism affects the brushing efficiency (Adam, 2020). Using randomized controlled studies, research has concluded that the new oscillating-rotating toothbrush is significantly more effective when compared to a manual toothbrush and a premium sonic toothbrush.
Introduction
In recent years, electric toothbrushes have been gaining in popularity due to several factors. In addition to being easy to use, studies have demonstrated their significant efficiency in removing plaque and improving the health of the gingiva (Pitchika et al., 2019). To further advance the mechanism of its toothbrushes, Oral-B has introduced a number of innovations. These include “increased oscillations, more ergonomic handle designs, improved brush head design and filament technology, timers, pressure sensors, brushing mode selections, and customizable interactive features via ‘Smart’ technology” (Adam, 2020, p. 1). Factors that are taken into consideration when developing novel brushing technologies are plaque removal and gingival health.
Objective
The objective of this research is to analyze the efficiency of the Oral-B iO, an oscillating-rotating toothbrush and the company’s latest innovation, by comparing it to several other toothbrushes.
Methodology
To answer the research question about the actual efficiency of the Oral-B iO toothbrush, researchers have conducted three controlled investigations. In the first study, participants were “adults with pre-existing plaque and gingivitis”, who were assigned to use either the Oral-B iO or a manual brush for a period of 8 weeks (Adam, 2020, p. 3). The second study was also an 8-week examiner-blinder clinical trial, which investigated and compared the differences in the use of Oral-B iO and “Sonicate Diamond Clean among adults with plaque and gingivitis” (Adam, Ram Goyal, et al., 2020, p. 17). The last study has compared the effect of a single use of Oral-B iO and a manual toothbrush (Adam, Erb, et al., 2020). Factors such as the participants’ gingivitis status and the number of bleeding sites were assessed in all studies.
Findings
The clinical trials conducted have revealed a number of important findings. Thus, participants in all groups have seen significant improvements in plaque removal and gingival health after using Oral-B iO (Adam, Ram Goyal, 2020, p. 3). Subjects who were assigned to use it had a healthier gingivitis status in comparison to those who used a Sonicare DiamondClean or a manual toothbrush. In addition, the reduction in the number of bleeding sites was 25% higher in the subjects who used Oral-B iO compared to those who used a premium sonic toothbrush (Adam, 2020, p. 5). All these improvements were evident even after a single use of the new oscillating-rotating toothbrush.
Conclusion & Implications for the Use of the Item
The research has demonstrated that the new oscillating-rotating Oral-B iO toothbrush is significantly more efficient in removing plaque, reducing gingivitis and the number of bleeding sites, and improving the overall oral health. In addition, it has been proved to provide users with a “noticeably quieter brushing experience” (Adam, 2020, p. 4). It can be concluded that the article fully supports the item’s claims of effectiveness by providing data from the clinical trials conducted as a part of this research. The findings can be used in the subsequent research on developing the mechanisms and technologies that allow improving gingival health and users’ brushing experience. The bias of the study may be based in the fact that Ralf Adam is an employee of Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, and Oral-B is a part of this company, which might have influenced the results of Adam’s study.
References
Adam, R. (2020). Introducing the Oral-B Io electric toothbrush: Next generation oscillating-rotating technology. International Dental Journal, 70, 1-6. Web.
Adam, R., Erb, J., & Grender, J. (2020). Randomized controlled trial assessing plaque removal of an oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush with micro-vibrations. International Dental Journal, 70, 22-27. Web.
Adam, R., Ram Goyal, C., Qaqish, J., & Grender, J. (2020). Evaluation of an oscillating-rotating toothbrush with micro-vibrations versus a sonic toothbrush for the reduction of plaque and gingivitis: Results from a randomized controlled trial. International Dental Journal, 70, 16-21. Web.
Pitchika, V., Pink, C., Völzke, H., Welk, A., Kocher, T., & Holtfreter, B. (2019). Long‐term impact of powered toothbrush on oral health: 11‐year cohort study. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 47(7), 713-722. Web.