Magnuson B, et al. Comparison of the effect of two interdental cleaning devices around implants on the reduction of bleeding: A 30-day randomized clinical trial. Compend of Contin Ed in Dent 2013; 34(Special Issue 8):2-7. Study conducted at Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Download Abstract PDFTo compare the efficacy of a Waterpik® Water Flosser to string floss for implant patients.
Subjects were randomized into two groups; Group 1 used a manual toothbrush and a Waterpik® Water Flosser with the Plaque Seeker® Tip (WF) and Group 2 used a manual toothbrush and string floss (SF). There were 22 implants in each group and the primary outcome was the reduction in the incidence of bleeding on probing. Subjects brushed twice a day and used either the WF or SF once a day.
There were no differences between the groups at baseline. At 30 days, 18 of the 22 (81.8%) implants in the WF group showed a significant reduction in BOP compared to 6 of the 18 (33.3%) from the floss group. The WF group experienced 145% better reduction in gingival bleeding around implants vs. the string floss group (p=0.0018).
The Waterpik® Water Flosser is significantly more effective than string floss for improving gingival health around implants and is safe to use.
