Impact of Collis Curve Toothbrush on Plaque Removal and Gingival Health in 8–10-year-old Children

Background: Effective plaque removal is crucial for maintaining oral health in children. However, compliance with conventional toothbrushes is often inadequate due to manual dexterity limitations and reduced brushing efficacy. The Collis curve toothbrush, with its unique curved bristle design, has been proposed to enhance plaque removal and gingival health by simultaneously cleaning buccal, lingual, and occlusal surfaces. However, limited clinical evidence exists regarding its effectiveness compared to conventional toothbrushes. Aim: This randomized controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy and impact on gingival health of the Collis curve toothbrush in comparison to a conventional toothbrush in 8–10-year-old children over a three-week period. Materials and Methods: A single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted among 60 children (aged 8–10 years), randomly assigned to two groups: Intervention Group (CT)–Collis curve toothbrush ( n = 30) & Control Group (MT) – Conventional toothbrush ( n = 30). The Clinical parameters were recorded: Plaque Index (PI) (Turesky modification of Quigley Hein index), Gingival Index (GI) (Löe and Silness index) at baseline and post-intervention (after three weeks) scores were measured by a calibrated, blinded examiner. The statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test for intra-group comparisons and the Mann–Whitney U test for inter-group comparisons (Significance level set at P < .05). Results: After three weeks, both groups exhibited statistically significant reductions in gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation ( P < .001). However, the Collis curve toothbrush group demonstrated significantly greater improvements. PI reduction was 1.67 ± 0.479 (CT) versus 0.62 ± 0.449 (MT) ( P < .001), and Gingival Index reduction was 0.74 ± 0.161 (CT) versus 0.19 ± 0.145 (MT) ( P < .001). No adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: The Collis Curve toothbrush exhibited superior plaque removal efficacy and improved gingival health compared to a conventional toothbrush. Its unique bristle design enables the simultaneous cleaning of multiple surfaces, making it a potentially effective alternative for pediatric oral hygiene. The Collis Curve toothbrush may benefit children with limited brushing skills, special needs populations, and those with malaligned teeth. Future long-term studies with microbiome analysis, evaluation of brushing compliance, and extended follow-up periods are recommended to establish its efficacy for sustained oral health improvement.