Compliance in use of electric toothbrushes

Abstract

This study investigates the frequency of use of electric toothbrushes in relation to time of possession and social background variables. A questionnaire was sent to 129 patients who had acquired an electric toothbrush within 36 months. They were patients at the Department of Clinical Periodontology and at general dental clinics in Örebro. Response rate was 96%. The brush was used daily by 62%, whereas 3% had ceased to use them. Frequency of use and encountered problems were related only for those who had had the brush for 3 years or more. Logistic regression on the frequency of use with the variables age, gender, marital status, education, time of possession, and received instruction showed no associations except in two cases. For patients at general dental clinics, only brush type, and for patients at the department, only encountered problems had explanatory value. The conclusion is that compliance level was high and unrelated to social factors.