The growing attention to dental care is increasing the demand for increasingly advanced tools for home hygiene, the radiofrequency toothbrush could be the future of daily dental care.
Stains on teeth and effective cleaning
Parallel to the growth of attention for a perfect smile, substances that stain the teeth or damage them have also grown, such as: coffee, tobacco, drinks and even many foods.
The rough and porous enamel also helps to retain the colored substances present in drinks and food. Whitening toothpastes are often relied upon, but it can be a double-edged sword. In fact, whitening toothpastes contain microparticles of abrasive material, such as alumina or silica, which, in the long run, can contribute to reducing or damaging the surface of the teeth by abrasion.
Which is why instead of reducing tooth stains, it could prepare the enamel for the appearance of further stains.
A non-abrasive RF toothbrush
Abrasive actions that are due to toothpastes with microgranules, excessively energetic brushing or bruxism reduce the enamel layer, this means that the underlying dentin layer is more evident and that yellowish effect on the teeth is obtained.
To limit the abrasive action on the enamel and at the same time eliminate tooth stains, a radiofrequency toothbrush has been developed on an experimental basis.
Radiofrequency is an alternating electric current that oscillates between 3 kHz and 300 GHz, used in medicine for several decades with various applications, including cosmetic surgery.
The radiofrequency of the toothbrush is low power and flows between two electrodes on a silicon barrier and allows tooth brushing.
Effectiveness of the radio frequency toothbrush compared to an electric toothbrush
In a clinical study published in the April 2022 Journal of the American Dental Association, the authors evaluated the effect of a new radiofrequency toothbrush on stain removal and teeth whitening compared to that obtained from a traditional sonic vibrating electric toothbrush. The research lasted 6 weeks.
The patient sample was divided into one of two study groups:
- Group 1 (experimental): brushing was performed with the new radiofrequency toothbrush
- Group 2 (control): brushing was performed with the traditional electric toothbrush with sonic vibration
In both groups, brushing was performed twice daily with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for 6 weeks. Stains and tooth color changes were assessed using the Lobene Stain Index and the VITA Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER shade guide at baseline and after 4 and 6 weeks. The VITA Easyshade Advance 4.0 spectrophotometer was also used for shade evaluation.
The safety of the devices was assessed by oral soft tissue examinations at each follow-up visit.
Search results
Eighty-six participants, forty-three from each group, completed the study. Removal of extrinsic stains and whitening in group 1 compared to group 2 was higher.
Both toothbrushes were well tolerated, and no device-related adverse events were reported during the study.
From the data that emerged, it can be concluded that the radiofrequency toothbrush produces substantial advantages in the reduction of dental stains and for the whitening of teeth compared to the traditional electric toothbrush.
