Discriminatory Efficiency of Biofilm Evaluation Methods Regarding Biofilm Removal on Oclusal Surface of Erupting Teeth

Objective: To compare two visual plaque indices and laser fluorescence (LF) in the discrimination of biofilm removal using the transversal toothbrushing method and single tufted brush considering biofilm removal from occlusal surfaces of erupting permanent molars. Method: Twenty-five children aged 5 to 7 with at least one first permanent molar in eruption in the oral cavity, totalizing 42 teeth. The children were randomly assigned to two groups according to the toothbrushing technique to be used firstly. They used the first technique and started using the second technique after 15 days using the first followed by a wash-out period. Before and after each toothbrushing period, the biofilm on the occlusal surface was examined by two independent examiners using the methods described above. The Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison between the toothbrushing techniques and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the conditions before and after the applied toothbrushing technique. Results: There was no statistically significant difference, on average, in the plaque indices between the toothbrushing periods with both techniques, neither before nor after their use. LF readings at the end of the transversal toothbrushing period, on the surfaces evidenced or not, were higher compared with the readings of the single tufted brush group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The visual plaque indices was not able to determine the effectiveness of the toothbrushing techniques directed to erupting molars on biofilm removal, nor toothbrushing periods, but LF can be an alternative to be evaluated with this purpose.