What do systematic reviews say?

8 questions · 14 findings · 1 reviews · Periodontology

No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 12 · 85.7%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 2 · 14.3%High 0 · 0%

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

Powered toothbrush, side-to-side action showed no clear difference in plaque score (>3 months) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Long term (>3 months)
SMD 0.02 [-0.21, 0.26]
3 studies · 272 participants
GRADE not reported
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
SMD -0.27 [-0.77, 0.23]
7 studies · 570 participants
GRADE not reported

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

Powered toothbrush, ionic action led to lower plaque score (1 to 3 months) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
SMD -0.57 [-0.87, -0.27]
3 studies · 186 participants
GRADE not reported
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Long term (>3 months)
MD -0.50 [-0.74, -0.26]
1 study · 64 participants
GRADE not reported

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

Powered toothbrush, rotation oscillation action led to lower plaque score (>3 months) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Long term (>3 months)
SMD -0.66 [-1.28, -0.03]
7 studies · 527 participants
GRADE not reported
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
SMD -0.53 [-0.74, -0.31]
20 studies · 1404 participants
GRADE not reported

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

Powered toothbrush, counter oscillation action led to lower plaque score (>3 months) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Long term (>3 months)
MD -0.27 [-0.48, -0.07]
2 studies · 69 participants
GRADE not reported
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
MD -0.03 [-0.15, 0.10]
4 studies · 184 participants
GRADE not reported

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

Powered toothbrush (any mode of action) probably leads to lower plaque score (1 to 3 months) compared with manual toothbrush (moderate certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
SMD -0.50 [-0.70, -0.31]
40 studies · 2871 participants
Moderate
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Long term (>3 months)
SMD -0.47 [-0.82, -0.11]
14 studies · 978 participants
Moderate

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

2 findings from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Long term (>3 months)
Ultrasonic vs manual, plaque at >3 months: one trial (Terezhalmy 1995a); no statistically significant difference; totals not selected (no pooled estimate presented in this version).
1 study · 46 participants
GRADE not reported
Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
SMD -1.33 [-1.59, -1.07]
4 studies · 301 participants
GRADE not reported

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

Powered toothbrush, circular action showed no clear difference in plaque score (1 to 3 months) compared with manual toothbrush; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
SMD -0.02 [-0.37, 0.33]
2 studies · 128 participants
GRADE not reported

Plaque · Individuals of any age with no reported disability that might affect toothbrushing (including people wearing orthodontic appliances)

1 finding from 1 review

Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health 2014 · Cochrane All outcomes
Short term (1 to 3 months)
Unknown/other action vs manual, plaque at 1 to 3 months: 2 trials; totals not selected (data presented in forest plots but not pooled owing to lack of clarity about the toothbrushes).
2 studies
GRADE not reported