| Methods | Randomised, parallel group study. Patients cannot be blind, outcome assessor blind. No withdrawals. | |
| Participants | Adults. 31 enrolled and results given for 31. | |
| Interventions | 2 groups. Sonic versus manual toothbrushing twice a day for 2 minutes. Study duration: 24 weeks. | |
| Outcomes | Plaque index by Silness and Loe, bleeding index by Philstrom, gingival index by Loe and Silness, pocket probing depths (mm), and patient acceptance parameters (questionnaire) at 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks. 24‐week data used. | |
| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | "Subjects....were randomly assigned....to either the sonic toothbrush....or the manual toothbrush". |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Unclear. |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | "The clinical examiner was blinded as to group assignment of test subjects." |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | No reply from author. No loss to follow‐up. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | No reply from author. |
| Other bias | Unclear risk | Commercially supported by Optiva Corporation. |
| Blinding of the patient? | Low risk | Not possible. This was judged to be irrelevant for the risk assessment. |
BOP = bleeding on probing
PPD = probing pocket depth
CHX = chlorhexidine