Toothbrush Focus - Dimensions of Dental Hygiene

Toothbrush Focus
THE TOOTHBRUSH is one of the most widely used
Keeping this list handy can help you determine what's right for each
oral hygiene products in the world. In fact, anyone who has ever done
patient. As you examine the various brushes, feel free to contact the
a Google search on toothbrushes knows the enormous amount of
manufacturers directly for more information. Most of them happily
information available on these devices—I just did and 719,000 items
provide samples for the practice—a perfect way to determine first-
popped up! It's understandable why patients become confused about
hand the features that might be best for your patients.
toothbrush selection. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene knows that the
—Jill Rethman, RDH, BA, editorial director
• POWER • POWER • POWER • POWER • POWER •
dental hygienist is the preventive specialist of the oral health care
team, and as such, needs to remain current on all oral care products,
Note: This list is inclusive of most toothbrushes on the market in the United States.
including toothbrushes. This year's Toothbrush Focus includes manu-
While every attempt is made to be as comprehensive as possible, there may be inad-
al and power toothbrushes and the features and benefits of each.
vertent product omissions.
TOOTHBRUSH
BRAND
COMMERCIAL
NAME
HANDLE
DESIGN
SIZES
AVAILABLE
BRISTLE
DESIGN
BRISTLE
TYPE
ORAL-B
Professional Care™
8000
• Ergonomic for greater
control and comfort
• Compact, round
brush head
• FlexiSoft® bristles with
longer interdental tips
• PowerPolisher brush head
combines polishing cup with
outer bristles
• DualAction brush head
offers two brushing motions
• Soft
• Customized speed control
• Lasts up to 12 days when charged
• Interdental cleaner cleans
between teeth
• Tongue freshener removes
bacteria from tongue and mouth
Sonic Complete™
• Slim, lightweight handle
with an ergonomic
front and back grip
• CrissCross® bristles for
gumline cleaning and
hard-to-reach areas
• Soft
• Soft bumpers on back of brush
head cushion teeth and gums
• Multimode brushing
customization
IntelliClean System from
Sonicare and Crest
• Ergonomic
• Replaceable
brush heads
• High speed bristle motion,
contoured to match the
tooth surface
• End-rounded soft
• Extra soft
• Integrated toothbrush and liquid
toothpaste system
• Patented sonic technology
• Smartimer and easy start
• Programmable quadpacer
Sonicare Elite
• Ergonomic
• Angled neck
• Replaceable
brush heads
• High speed bristle motion,
contoured to match the
tooth surface
• End-rounded
bristles
• Extra soft
•
•
•
•
•
Sonicare Advance
• Ergonomic
• Replaceable
brush heads
• High speed bristle motion,
contoured to match the
tooth surface
• Extra soft
• Patented sonic technology
• Smartimer and easy start
• Quadpacer
PRO-DENTEC
Rota-dent One Step™
• Easy to grip
• Light
• Rechargeable
• Universal
• 5,000 ultra soft
microfilaments
• Compact design
• .03 and .04
Tynex
microfilaments
• 360° rotary action
• Lifetime warranty
SUNSTAR BUTLER
GUM® Rotapower
• Comfortable
• Ergonomic
• 23 tufts on
circular head
• Oscillating bristle action
• Ultra soft
• Battery operated, requires no
recharging
GUM Sesame Street®
• Comfortable
• Designed for small
hands
• Ergonomic
• 23 tufts on
circular head
• Oscillating bristle action
• Ultra soft
• Available characters: Big Bird,
Cookie Monster, Elmo
• Battery operated, requires no
recharging
• Collectible character stand
SenSonic® Toothbrush
• Lightweight, ergonomic
handle with soft,
nonslip grip
• One
• End-rounded,
contoured bristles
• Soft, nylon
• Senses brushing pressure and
adjusts brush speed
• 30,000 sonic brush strokes
per minute
• 3 minute timer with quadrant
indicator
• Two brushing speeds
• Two color coded brush heads
SynchroSonic® Plus
Advanced Action Sonic
Plaque Removal System
• Lightweight, ergonomic
handle with soft,
nonslip grip
• One
• End-rounded,
contoured bristles
• Soft, nylon
• 40,000 sonic brush strokes
per minute
• Multiple attachments include
polishing cup, tongue cleaner,
and brush heads
PHILIPS ORAL
HEALTHCARE
WATERPIK
TECHNOLOGIES
28 Dimensions OF DENTAL HYGIENE www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com
UNIQUE FEATURES
Patented sonic technology
Smartimer and easy start
Programmable quadpacer
Recharge gauge
Dual speed control
MAY 2005
• MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL •
Toothbrush Focus
TOOTHBRUSH
BRAND
COMMERCIAL
NAME
HANDLE
DESIGN
SIZES
AVAILABLE
BRISTLE
DESIGN
BRISTLE
TYPE
BIOTENE
SuperSoft
• Wide profile
• Full size
• Compact
• Extra soft
COLGATE
360™ Whole Mouth Clean
Brush
• Cushioned thumb grip
• Compact head
• Tapered with raised
cleaning tip
• Soft
• Tongue cleaner and soft
rubber polishing cups
Smiles™ Children’s
Toothbrushes
• Cushioned
• Ergonomic handles and
heads
•
•
•
•
• Angled
• Multiheight
• Soft
• Dosing dot to measure
correct amount of paste
• Patented tongue cleaner
(youth only)
Massager® Adult
Toothbrush
• Flexible head
• Compact head
• Multiheight
• Soft
• Rubber bristles gently
massage gums
Sensitive Adult Toothbrush
• Flexible neck
• Hanlde with rubber
thumb grip
• Ultra compact head
Professional Adult
Toothbrush
• Ergonomic
• Ultra compact head
• Compact head
• Full head
• Patented triple-action
bristles
• Soft
Navigator® Adult
Toothbrush
• Flexible
• Compact head
• Full head
• Polished, end-rounded
• Soft
Extreme Clean®
• Soft rubber grip
• Standard head
• Angled tip
• Soft
• Medium
• Combination of bristles and
gentle rubber wipers
• Flexibile head, neck, and tip
XTensive™
• Soft rubber grip
• Standard head
• Multi-angled and
multilength
• Angled Tip
• Soft
• Medium
• Multilength bristles
• Flexible head and neck
Max-Active®
• Thicker, ergonomic rubber grip
• Standard head
• Multi-angled and
multilength
• Angled tip
• Soft
• Medium
• Comfort handle
• Multi-angled bristles
• Flexible tip, head, and neck
Direct®
• Soft rubber grip
• Standard head
• Flat
• Soft
• Medium
• Flexible neck
Dragon Tales™
• Thicker, soft rubber grip
• Child sized
• Flat
• Extra Soft
•
•
•
•
NIMBUS®
Microfine
• Comfortable
• Ergonomic
• Nonslip
• Compact
• Standard
• Tapered, two level design
• Extra soft
• Soft
• Designed by a periodontist
• Four colors
• Gentle
ORAL-B
Cross Action Vitalizer
• Ergonomic
• 35 regular
• 40 regular
• CrissCross® bristles are
positioned in opposing
directions, designed to lift
and sweep plaque away
along the gum line
• Soft
• Medium
• Two rows of soft gum
stimulators
• Multisection Power Tip® of
elevated bristles
• Patented blue Indicator®
bristles signal when to
replace brush head
Advantage Artica
• Ergonomic
• 35
• 40
• Power Tip® bristles to
reach back teeth
• Soft
• Medium
• Polishing cup designed with
tightly packed center bristles
encircled by taller angled
bristles to clean away stains
Cross Action
• Ergonomic
• Rubber grip
• Features front and back
thumb stops
• 35 compact
• 40 regular
• 60 full
• CrissCross bristles are
angled in opposing
directions to lift and
sweep plaque away
• Soft
• Medium
• Power Tip bristles are extra
long to help clean hard-toreach places
#1 Staggered
• Straight
• Translucent or opaque
• Adult
• 3 row
• Alternating
• 18 tuft
•
•
•
•
• For deep fissures, grooves,
and depressions
• Shape memory handle
#2 Ortho
• Straight
• Translucent
• Adult
• 2 Row
• In line
• 12 tuft
• Soft
• End-rounded
• Polished
• .007”
• Bristles get between
brackets and wires
• Shape memory handle
#3 Regular
• Straight
• Translucent
• Adult
• 3 Row
• In line
• 20 tuft
•
•
•
•
• Original Bass layout
• Shape memory handle
GLAXOSMITHKLINE
POH
My First Colgate
Ages (0-2)
Junior Ages (2-5)
Youth Ages (5+)
30 Dimensions OF DENTAL HYGIENE www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com
UNIQUE FEATURES
• Ultra soft
Soft
End-rounded
Polished
.007”
Soft
End-rounded
Polished
.007”
• Good for orthodontic patients
Character cap
Stand-up feet
Flexible neck
Small angled head
MAY 2005
• MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL • MANUAL •
Toothbrush Focus
TOOTHBRUSH
BRAND
COMMERCIAL
NAME
HANDLE
DESIGN
SIZES
AVAILABLE
BRISTLE
DESIGN
BRISTLE
TYPE
POH
#4 Multi-Tuft
• Straight
• Translucent or opaque
• Adult
• 4 Row
• In line
• 43 tuft
•
•
•
•
Soft
End-rounded
Polished
.007” or .005”
• Shape memory handle
• Also available in value style
• Firm feel, soft bristle
#6 Sulcus
• Straight
• Translucent
• Adult
• 2 Row
• Ellipse
• 16 tuft
•
•
•
•
Soft
End-rounded
Polished
.007” or .005”
• Focuses a patient’s efforts
• Shape memory handle
#8 Junior
• Straight
• Translucent or opaque
• Child
• 3 Row
• In line
• 24 tuft
•
•
•
•
Soft
End-rounded
Polished
.007” or .005”
• Shape memory handle
• Also available in value style
PRO-DENTEC
Proclean™
• Slim, angled
• Thumb grip
•
•
•
•
• Rounded end with Blue
Sweeptip™
• Ultra soft
• Extra gentle bristles with
the Blue Sweeptip
SULCABRUSH
Sulcabrush
• Angled on two ends
• Regular
• Nylon
• Dupont
• For patients who have
difficulty flossing
Pocket
Sulcabrush
• Compact with storage
in handle for tips
• Travel
• Nylon
• Dupont
• For patients who have
difficulty flossing
GUM® Delicate
• Comfortable
• Rubber thumb grip
• Compact
• .004 inch diameter
nylon
• Flat trim bristles
• Ultra soft
• Specially designed bristles
for sensitive tissues
GUM Dome Trim
• Ergonomic
• Soft grip with raised ribs
• Compact
• Full
• Dome Trim® bristles
• Sensitive
• Soft
• Competitive price
GUM Kids Technique™
• Ergonomic
• Four sided handle with
ribs on all sides
• Fun designs on handle
• Compact
• Dome Trim bristles
• Ultra soft
• Four angled thumb pads
encourage brushing at a
45° angle
GUM Micro Tip™
• Clear handle
• Rubber thumb grip
• Compact
• Full
• Dome Trim bristles
• Sensitive
• Soft
• Interdental-cut bristle trim
• Micro-feathered inside
bristle rows
GUM Super Tip
• Front and back textured
rubber thumb grip
• Compact
• Full
• Subcompact
• Raised inner bristles
• Super Tip bristles for
hard to reach areas
• Sensitive
• Soft
• Multilevel trim design
GUM Technique™
• Ergonomic
• Four-sided handle
• Compact
• Full
• Dome Trim bristles
• Sensitive
• Soft
• Four angled thumb pads
encourage brushing at a
45° angle
TePe Nova
• Control grip
• Ergonomic
• Compact
• Regular
• Tapered bristles
• Extra soft
• Medium
• Soft
• High tip for reach
• Long neck and small head
TePe Special Care
• Ergonomic
• Compact
• Regular
• Tapered bristles
• Extra soft
• Holds solution if dipping in
antibacterial fluid
• Neck can be angled
Concept Curve
• Oval head, angled
handle with ergonomic
grip
• Adult brush with
medium head
• 38 tuft
• Long flat trim
• Soft .007
• Softer
• Flexible neck along with
soft bristles
Signature
• Tapered head with comfortable contoured grip
• Adult, 42 tuft
• Youth, 28 tuft
• Preschool, 19 tuft
• Flat trim
• Soft .007
• Softer
• Soft bristles are gentle on
gums and taper allows for
easy access to posterior parts
of the mouth
Accent
• Oval head, angled
handle
• Comfortable rubber grip
• Adult compact, 37
tuft
• Soft long bristles at
the tip of the head for
hard to reach areas
• Soft .007
• Compact head enhances
access for people with small
mouths or limited access
ULTRADENT
Opalescence Smile Brush
• Flexible neck
• Nonslip grip
• Adult standard
• Compact head
• End-rounded bristles
• .007 bristle
• Soft
filament
• Available in blue, melon,
green, and variety pack
VISTA
Breeze™
• Soft grip
• Adult
• Multi-angled
• Multiheight
• Medium
• DuPoint®
bristles
• Flexible neck and head
• Imprinting available
SUNSTAR BUTLER
TEPE
TESS
Adult
Compact
Young Adult
Youth
UNIQUE FEATURES
Dental Products
Mountains Above the Rest
32 Dimensions OF DENTAL HYGIENE www.dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com
MAY 2005