Placebo Controlled Trial of a Titanium Dioxide Semiconductor Toothbrush on Mild-to-moderate Gum Disease

• gingivitis index [ Time Frame: 4 measurements 4 weeks apart ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• plaque index [ Time Frame: 4 measurements 4 weeks apart ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• subjective comments re: functionality of of the Soladey-3 toothbrush compared to conventional toothbrush. [ Time Frame: End of study assessment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Organic acid producing anaerobic bacteria are implicated in the development and progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease (Brill, 1962; Kleinberg, 1974). The disease process manifests as periodontal inflammation and tissue destruction (Oliver et al, 1969). Although relatively crude methods are used for routine clinical diagnosis and monitoring of periodontal disease (eg, probing for gingival pocket depth and bleeding), sensitive and reproducible measures of periodontal disease have been validated (Oliver et al, 1969; Löe et al, 1965; Egelberg, 1964; Golub et al, 1976; Borden et al, 1977).

By the Lewis definition, an acid is an electron pair acceptor. In the presence of light &/or electrical induction, valence electrons from a wetted titanium dioxide (TiO2) semiconductor will donate electron pairs to neutralize organic acids. Whereas a tooth surface is negatively charged, plaque has a net positive charge, and in part, ionic attraction contributes to the adherence of plaque to the tooth surface. Donating electrons to the plaque will alter polarity and diminish the ionic attraction between the plaque and the tooth surface (iontophoretic effect).

Thus, in addition to the established mechanical benefits of brushing, the flow of electron pairs for disrupting ionic bonding of plaque to the tooth surface and neutralizing bacterial organic acids, may confer an advantage over a conventional toothbrush (Hoover et al, 1992; Niwa et al, 1989; Kusunoki et al, 1986). There is some evidence that the electrons may also interact with bacterial coenzyme-A to have an antibacterial effect (Morioka et al, 1988; Onoda et al, 1996).