Comparing electric toothbrushes: sonic power versus oscillating-rotating | Dentistry33 (2024)

06 April 2023

The regular and complete removal of dental plaque is mainly thanks to the toothbrush. Toothbrushes come in many different designs, varying in the shape of the handle, brush head, bristle arrangement and filament shapes.

Electric or powered toothbrushes (PTB) have been in use since the 1940s and are still widely used today. They demonstrate benefits in the reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis compared to manual toothbrushes (MTB) both in the short and long term. And, thanks to their performance and ease of use, are becoming increasingly popular.

Different types of PTBs with different head configurations and with different modes of action are available on the market.

The high frequency sonic electric toothbrush (HFS-PTB), with side-to-side bristle movement, and the oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush (OR-PTB) are the best-selling and most sought-after modes of action worldwide.

Materials and methods

In a recent systematic review, first published in May 2022 in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, authors established the efficacy of the oscillating rotation electric toothbrush (OR-PTB) compared to the high frequency sonic electric toothbrush (HFS-PTB) in regarding the parameters of plaque and gingival inflammation.

The literature search was conducted through the Medline-PubMed and Cochrane-Central databases up to April 2021.

Controlled or randomized clinical trials were selected that evaluated the efficacy of brushing with an oscillating rotation electric toothbrush (OR-PTB) in comparison with a high frequency sonic electric toothbrush (HFS-PTB).

The following parameters were evaluated for a minimum of 4 weeks:

  • plaque index (PI),
  • bleeding index (BS),
  • number of bleeding sites (NoB), and
  • gingival index (GI).

Results

Researchers included 32 publications with 38 comparisons in the final review. Descriptive analysis showed that in 54% of the comparisons, a significant difference in favor of the OR-PTB was found for the PI, BS and GI scores. The Quigley and Hein index showed a significant difference in means (DiffM) between final scores, as did the Navy index modified from Rustogi.

These data are in line with the meta-analysis for BS, for which the results came out in favor of the OR-PTB and considered potentially clinically relevant. A significant difference in favor of OR-PTB was found for NoB. Some 78% of the participants preferred the OR-PTB.

Conclusions

From the data of this study, researchers concluded that to maintain good plaque control and improve gingival health, the oscillating rotation electric toothbrush offers clinically relevant advantages compared to the sonic toothbrush, albeit with a small but significant difference.

Acknowledgements

This study was sponsored in part by an unrestricted educational grant by Procter and Gamble Company Worldwide Clinical Investigations—Oral Care. The company had no say in the design of this review, nor did they influence the reporting and publishing of the findings.

For more information: "The efficacy of an oscillating-rotating power toothbrush compared to a high-frequency sonic power toothbrush on parameters of dental plaque and gingival inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis."

Comparing electric toothbrushes: sonic power versus oscillating-rotating | Dentistry33 (2) Tag

Electric ToothbrushSonicOscillatingPlaqueGingival Inflammation

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Comparing electric toothbrushes: sonic power versus oscillating-rotating | Dentistry33 (2024)

FAQs

Comparing electric toothbrushes: sonic power versus oscillating-rotating | Dentistry33? ›

Electric rotating-oscillating toothbrushes come with lower power than sonic toothbrushes, but due to the rotating head you can find them quite powerful in removing the plaque off your teeth. Sonic toothbrushes, on the other hand, are considered much more effective thanks to the high level of vibrations they provide.

Which is better sonic or rotating oscillating toothbrushes? ›

Electric rotating-oscillating toothbrushes come with lower power than sonic toothbrushes, but due to the rotating head you can find them quite powerful in removing the plaque off your teeth. Sonic toothbrushes, on the other hand, are considered much more effective thanks to the high level of vibrations they provide.

Are sonic toothbrushes better than other electric toothbrushes? ›

The winner is: sonic toothbrush.

An electric toothbrush can increase your number of brushstrokes to around 2,500 to 7,000 strokes per minute. However, the sonic toothbrush boasts a whopping 30,000 brush strokes per minute, making it an excellent choice for those with limited mobility.

Is ultrasonic better than regular electric toothbrush? ›

But what's the difference between these two? Regular electric toothbrushes have rotating heads that can spin several thousand times per minute, but sonic toothbrushes spin tens of thousands of times per minute, which can give you a cleaner smile in a shorter period of time.

Is there really a difference between Sonicare toothbrushes? ›

Some have a travel case and multiple heads. The ExpertClean 7300 has a replacement head, while the DiamondClean Smart 9300 has a plaque control brush head, a white brush head, and a gum health brush head. Not all heads are compatible with all models, so check compatibility before buying replacements.

What is the downside of a sonic toothbrush? ›

However sonic brushes do have one major drawback; they tend to be quite expensive compared to both manual and electric versions making them cost-prohibitive for some users with tighter budgets who still want a quality brush for cleaning their teeth thoroughly each day!

Do dentists recommend oral-B or sonicare? ›

Sonicare's heads are large and flat compared to Oral-B's small round brushes, and they're long-lasting, according to Wellspring Dental dentist Mandy Nebel, who prefers Sonicare over other brands. This specific model — one of two from the brand accepted by the ADA — is a more entry-level Sonicare.

What is the difference between oscillating and sonic electric toothbrushes? ›

Like rotating oscillating toothbrushes, Sonic electric toothbrushes include spinning and oscillating features to clear plaque, but they also move much faster. Compared to an oscillating toothbrush's limit of 7500 rotations per minute, Sonic brushes have an average of 30,000 brushes each minute.

Is sonic brush recommended by dentists? ›

The Sonic Brush utilizes a dentist-recommended toothbrushing method, ensuring an effective and thorough dental-grade clean every day. Experience unparalleled performance and maintain optimal oral hygiene with ease.

What's the difference between a sonic and ultrasonic toothbrush? ›

Sonic toothbrushes combine physical movement along with sound vibrations, whereas ultrasonic toothbrushes rely solely on high-intensity sonic vibrations.

What is the difference between ultrasonic and ionic toothbrushes? ›

Ultrasonic means a brush action where the bristles flutter at ultrasonic frequencies (greater than 20 kilohertz). Ionic refers to a brush that gives an electric charge to the tooth surface to disrupt the attachment of dental plaque.

Which Sonicare model is best? ›

The best Sonicare toothbrushes you can buy in 2023
  1. Philips One Electric Toothbrush: The best electric travel toothbrush. ...
  2. Philips Sonicare 3100: The best budget Sonicare toothbrush. ...
  3. Philips ExpertClean 7300: The best Sonicare toothbrush for value.
Mar 26, 2024

Is oral-B or Sonicare better for gums? ›

According to a NCBI research-based article where Sonicare and Oral-B electric toothbrushes were compared, it stated, “Overall, this study demonstrates that long-term use of these two electric toothbrushes improves periodontal health in adult periodontitis patients, and that the Sonicare brush is superior to the Braun ( ...

Does Oral-B remove more plaque than Sonicare? ›

Plus, an Oral-B electric toothbrush like the Oral-B Pro 1000 even removes 26% more plaque than Sonicare DiamondClean* and 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.

Is a rotating head toothbrush better? ›

The circular movement of rotating brush heads allows for precise cleaning around each tooth, proving effective against plaque in those hard-to-reach areas.

What are the benefits of a rotating toothbrush? ›

Oscillating-rotating: This kind of toothbrush has a small, round brush head that oscillates back and forth in a circular motion to help remove plaque. A smaller brush head can be very good for cleaning the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

Is a spin brush better than a regular toothbrush? ›

Benefits of an Electric Toothbrush

Removes more plaque –electric toothbrushes remove up to 70% more plaque than manual toothbrushes in hard-to-reach places*. Good for your gums – an 11-year study of electric vs. manual toothbrush use found that electric toothbrushes resulted in 22% less gum recession.

Which is better sonic or rotating toothbrush quora? ›

The rotary or sonic type causes you to pay close attention to what you are doing. This is good. However, you can also do this with a manual toothbrush. None of these cleans between the teeth, which is where 85% of the contact between teeth and gums occurs.

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