Background Study Design - Fresh Guard
Millions of People in the US wear retainers, mouth guards, clear braces, or other removable braces. And millions of people are not cleaning them properly. Over 40% of oral appliance wearers use current cleaning method based on professional recommendation. A recent survey found that most removable device wearers (64%) - including dental professionals themselves – use a toothbrush and toothpaste, while others improvise by soaking their devices in mouthwash or brushing only with water. The use of toothpaste and toothbrushes can have an adverse effect on your appliance, causing scratches and potentially damaging them. To demonstrate the potential impact of brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste we conducted a smallscale brushing study.
Background Two removable braces were examined for
•
surface morphology changes after brushing with toothpaste and a toothbrush. The images were compared to an un-
•
brushed control sample.
D#
Study Design
20130213-01
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Removable Braces – 2 weeks • # The two test samples were subjected to twenty-eight and fifty–six cleaning cycles using a soft
20130213-02
20130213-03
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tooth brush and leading brand of whitening toothpaste. The unbrushed/untreated sample served as Removable Braces – 4 weeks the control.
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Removable Braces Control • # The twenty-eight and fifty-six cycles represent 2 and 4 weeks of brushing the appliance twice a day,
respectively. werefor rinsed with tap water between brushing cycles Two removable braces The weresamples examined #
and after changes the final cycle. surface morphology after brushing #
with toothpaste and a toothbrush. The images •
The brushed and un-brushed surfaces of the removable braces were examined using optical and electron scanning microscopy techniques, and digitally photographed.
# were compared to an un-brushed control
sample. # •
# # #
Results & Discussion # # The photographs of the brushed and un-brushed removable braces are shown below in Figure 1. # The brushed samples clearly appear to become more opaque when compared to the control un-brushed removable brace. # # # # #
Figure 1. Digitally Photographed Images of the Removable Braces
# # # # # # #
20130213-01 Removable Braces 2 weeks
20130213-02 Removable Braces 4 weeks
# # # # # # # # # # # #
20130213-03 Removable Braces Control
# Optical microscopy images of the brushed and un-brushed removable braces shown below (Figure 2) show low magnification morphological surface changes produced by the brushing. Figure 2. Optical Microscopy Images
Oral#Appliance
Oral#Appliance
Oral#Appliance
Secondary electron magnification images of the brushed and un-brushed removable braces appear in Figure 3. Significant surface scratching of both the brushed removable braces was observed compared to the control sample. # Figure 3. SEM images
# # # # #
Background Two removable braces were examined for
•
surface morphology changes after brushing with toothpaste and a toothbrush. The images were compared to an un-
•
brushed control sample.
D#
Study Design
20130213-01
#
Removable Braces – 2 weeks • # The two test samples were subjected to twenty-eight and fifty–six cleaning cycles using a soft
20130213-02
20130213-03
#
tooth brush and leading brand of whitening toothpaste. The unbrushed/untreated sample served as Removable Braces – 4 weeks the control.
#
Removable Braces Control • # The twenty-eight and fifty-six cycles represent 2 and 4 weeks of brushing the appliance twice a day,
respectively. werefor rinsed with tap water between brushing cycles Two removable braces The weresamples examined #
and after changes the final cycle. surface morphology after brushing #
with toothpaste and a toothbrush. The images •
The brushed and un-brushed surfaces of the removable braces were examined using optical and electron scanning microscopy techniques, and digitally photographed.
# were compared to an un-brushed control
sample. # •
# # #
Results & Discussion # # The photographs of the brushed and un-brushed removable braces are shown below in Figure 1. # The brushed samples clearly appear to become more opaque when compared to the control un-brushed removable brace. # # # # #
Figure 1. Digitally Photographed Images of the Removable Braces
# # # # # # #
20130213-01 Removable Braces 2 weeks
20130213-02 Removable Braces 4 weeks
# # # # # # # # # # # #
20130213-03 Removable Braces Control
# Optical microscopy images of the brushed and un-brushed removable braces shown below (Figure 2) show low magnification morphological surface changes produced by the brushing. Figure 2. Optical Microscopy Images
Oral#Appliance
Oral#Appliance
Oral#Appliance
Secondary electron magnification images of the brushed and un-brushed removable braces appear in Figure 3. Significant surface scratching of both the brushed removable braces was observed compared to the control sample. # Figure 3. SEM images
# # # # #
