Proliferative response of gingival cells to ultrasonic and/or vibration toothbrushes
Kusano, H.; Tomofuji, T.; Azuma, T.; Sakamoto, T.; Yamamoto, T.; Watanabe, T.
American Journal of Dentistry 19(1): 7-10
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0894-8275 PMID: 16555649 Document Number: 597310
To evaluate the effects of ultrasonic and/or vibration toothbrushes on cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. In eight dogs, teeth and gingivae were stimulated once a day as follows: the first quadrant with an ultrasonic toothbrush (1.6 MHz); the second one with a mechanical vibratory toothbrush (141 Hz); and the third one with a toothbrush generating both the ultrasound and the vibration. The fourth quadrant served as a control. Proliferative activity and collagen synthesis of gingival cells were evaluated by assaying the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and procollagen type I C-peptide (PIP), respectively. After 5 weeks, ultrasonic or vibratory toothbrushes increased the numbers of PCNA-positive fibroblasts and PIP-positive fibroblasts. Toothbrushing with a combination of ultrasound and mechanical vibration increased the numbers of PIP-positive fibroblasts, total fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells to a greater extent than the one with only ultrasound alone. Vibratory toothbrush, but not the ultrasonic one, induced an increase in collagen density without gingival overgrowth.