Gum Health

Waterpik™ Water Flosser: More Than Twice as Effective as String Floss for Implant Patients

Study found the Waterpik™ Water Flosser with Plaque Seeker Tip was over twice as effective as string floss at reducing bleeding around implants in a 30-day clinical trial.

Waterpik™ Water Flosser: More Than Twice as Effective as String Floss for Implant Patients

Comparison of the Effect of Two Interdental Cleaning Devices Around Implants on the Reduction of Bleeding: A 30-Day Randomised Clinical Trial

Magnuson B, Harsono M, Stark PC, et al. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2013; 34(Special Issue 8):2–7.
Study conducted at Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.

Objective

To compare the efficacy of a Waterpik™ Water Flosser with string floss in implant patients.

Methodology

Subjects were randomised into two groups:

  • Group One: Manual toothbrush plus Waterpik Water Flosser with the Plaque Seeker™ Tip (WF)

  • Group Two: Manual toothbrush plus string floss (SF)

Each group included twenty-two implants. The primary outcome measured was the reduction in bleeding on probing (BOP).
Subjects brushed twice daily and used either the Water Flosser or string floss once daily.

Results

There were no differences between groups at baseline. After thirty days, eighteen of twenty-two implants (81.8%) in the WF group showed a significant reduction in BOP, compared with six of eighteen implants (33.3%) in the floss group.
The WF group demonstrated a 145% greater reduction in gingival bleeding around implants than the string floss group (p = 0.0018).

Conclusion

The Waterpik Water Flosser is significantly more effective than string floss for improving gingival health around dental implants and is safe for use in implant patients.

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