Biomaterial Database

An alternative to dental floss in a personal dental hygiene program. 1994

M Kazmierczak, and M Mather, and T M Anderson, and S G Ciancio

Department of Periodontology, SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, New York.

The concept of gingival massage on maintaining the health of the gingiva may be of value as an adjunct in the periodontal maintenance phase of treatment. This study compared dental floss to a test product, a massage device, in a randomized population of 20 male and female subjects. Clinical measurements were taken at baseline, week 3, and week 6. Patients were instructed to brush twice daily using their normal hygiene methods and to use the assigned product once daily. Plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BI) and pocket probing depths did improve in both the control and the test groups, but the differences did not favor either group over the other. The gingival index (GI) did, however, significantly decrease in the massage group, suggesting that this product may not only be an alternative to dental floss, but may provide added benefits from gingival massaging.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008405	Massage	The systematic and methodical manipulations of body tissues best performed with the hands for the purpose of affecting the nervous and muscular systems and the general circulation.	Zone Therapy,Massage Therapy,Therapy, Zone,Massage Therapies,Therapies, Massage,Therapies, Zone,Therapy, Massage,Zone Therapies
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009910	Oral Hygiene	The practice of personal hygiene of the mouth. It includes the maintenance of oral cleanliness, tissue tone, and general preservation of oral health.	Dental Hygiene,Hygiene, Dental,Hygiene, Oral
D010512	Periodontal Index	A numerical rating scale for classifying the periodontal status of a person or population with a single figure which takes into consideration prevalence as well as severity of the condition. It is based upon probe measurement of periodontal pockets and on gingival tissue status.	Bleeding on Probing, Gingival,CPITN,Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs,Gingival Bleeding on Probing,Gingival Index,Gingival Indexes,Periodontal Indexes,Gingival Indices,Index, Gingival,Index, Periodontal,Indexes, Gingival,Indexes, Periodontal,Indices, Gingival,Indices, Periodontal,Periodontal Indices
D012044	Regression Analysis	Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable.	Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D003742	Dental Devices, Home Care	Devices used in the home by persons to maintain dental and periodontal health. The devices include toothbrushes, dental flosses, water irrigators, gingival stimulators, etc.	Dental Floss,Floss, Dental,Home Care Dental Devices
D003773	Dental Plaque	A film that attaches to teeth, often causing DENTAL CARIES and GINGIVITIS. It is composed of MUCINS, secreted from salivary glands, and microorganisms.	Plaque, Dental
D003774	Dental Plaque Index	An index which scores the degree of dental plaque accumulation.	Dental Plaque Indexes,Dental Plaque Indices,Index, Dental Plaque,Indexes, Dental Plaque,Indices, Dental Plaque
D005260	Female		Females