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RecruitingNCT07549347Updated Apr 24, 2026

Is Professional Tooth Cleaning Necessary for Managing Gingivitis (Gingival Inflammation) if Subjects Use Intelligent Toothbrushes?

An interventional study of Optimal oral care regimen and Periodontal Treatment in Gingivitis and Periodontitis, sponsored by Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 64 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-24.

Sponsored by Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
92
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 64 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Periodontitis is highly prevalent and develops from plaque-induced gingivitis. Managing gingivitis is key to preventing periodontitis and its complications. Professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) with oral hygiene guidance is effective for gingivitis, but large-scale implementation-especially in China-faces challenges such as workforce shortages. Meanwhile, patient compliance with daily oral hygiene remains poor. An optimal oral care regimen featuring an intelligent electric toothbrush (i-Brush) has shown promise in enhancing self-care adherence and efficiency. However, it remains unclear whether PMPR is still necessary when used in conjunction with this optimal oral care regimen. This study aims to verify whether the i-Brush-based regimen is non-inferior to the combination of PMPR and the regimen in improving gingival inflammation in gingivitis and stage I periodontitis.

Read the detailed description

Periodontitis is highly prevalent and develops from gingivitis caused by plaque accumulation. Managing gingivitis is the "best-buy" approach for preventing periodontitis and avoiding its local and systemic sequelae. Professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR), which aims at removing plaque biofilm and dental calculus, is generally considered effective in treating gingivitis when provided in the context of oral hygiene instructions. However, delivering PMPR to large populations such as the Chinese population poses formidable challenges, including the formation of an adequate workforce. Achievement of adequate oral hygiene standards is critical to the successful treatment of gum disease. However, many studies have shown poor patient compliance with routine oral hygiene instruction. A new technology based on an intelligent electric toothbrush (i-Brush) and the Internet of Things shows good application prospects. A previous study has verified the effectiveness of optimal oral care regimens, which involve the use of an i-brush and the application of standard toothpaste, in enhancing the adherence and performance of self-performed oral hygiene, leading to significant savings and a more effective allocation of healthcare resources. However, it is unclear whether PMPR still plays an important role when combined with such optimal oral care regimens in managing gingivitis and early-stage periodontitis. This study aims to determine whether the effect of the optimal oral care regimen in improving gingival inflammation in gingivitis and stage I periodontitis is not inferior to the effect of the combination with PMPR.

02

Conditions studied

  • Gingivitis
  • Periodontitis

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • internet of things network
  • oral hygiene instruction
  • professional mechanical plaque removal
  • mobile health
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 64 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. ≧18 years old and \< 65 years old
  2. Gingivitis, Stage I and Localized Stage II Periodontitis
  3. With more than 20 teeth
  4. Agree to use the electronic I-brush with the Oral-B APP

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Presence of any systemic disease that can alter the outcome of periodontal treatment
  2. Pregnancy or lactation during the study
  3. Having received antibiotics within the previous 3 months
  4. Having received professional periodontal treatment within the previous 3 months
  5. With ongoing orthodontic treatment
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
92 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Test group

    The test group will receive sham Professional Mechanical Plaque Removal consisting of cleaning the teeth with the same ultrasonic device but applied more than 2 mm away from the gingival margin at baseline.

    Behavioral: Optimal oral care regimen · Device: Sham Periodontal Treatment

  • Other
    Control group

    The control group will receive standard Professional Mechanical Plaque Removal consisting of supra- and subgingival debridement at baseline.

    Behavioral: Optimal oral care regimen · Device: Periodontal Treatment

Interventions

  • BehavioralOptimal oral care regimen

    Both groups will receive the optimal oral care regimen throughout the entire research period. This regimen comprises using a commercially available intelligent toothbrush connected to the Chinese consumer version of an application, receiving targeted oral health messages, and using dental floss.

  • DevicePeriodontal Treatment

    At baseline, the control group will receive standard professional mechanical plaque removal consisting of supra - and subgingival debridement using ultrasonic device.

  • DeviceSham Periodontal Treatment

    At baseline, the test group will receive sham professional mechanical plaque removal consisting of cleaning the teeth with the same ultrasonic device but applied more than 2 mm away from the gingival margin.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. changes in full mouth bleeding score (FMBS)

    changes of full mouth bleeding score after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. changes in probing depth (PD)

    changes of probing depth after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

  2. changes in plaque index (PI)

    changes of plaque index after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

  3. changes in calculus surface index (CSI)

    changes of calculus surface index after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

  4. changes in oral biomarker concentration

    changes of biomarker concentration (ng/ml) in saliva and oral rinse after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

  5. changes in subgingival plaque taxa

    changes of the taxa of subgingival plaque after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

  6. changes in patient reported outcomes

    changes of patient reported outcomes evaluated by Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire after periodontal treatment

    Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality 200000, China
    • Rui Gao, BDS, MSc · Contact · gr1015209095@163.com · 8615000102368
    • MAurizio Tonetti, DMD PhD · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Li Y, Wu X, Liu M, Deng K, Tullini A, Zhang X, Shi J, Lai H, Tonetti MS. Enhanced control of periodontitis by an artificial intelligence-enabled multimodal-sensing toothbrush and targeted mHealth micromessages: A randomized trial. J Clin Periodontol. 2024 Dec;51(12):1632-1643. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13987. Epub 2024 Apr 17. PubMed 38631679 ↗
  • Tonetti MS, Deng K, Christiansen A, Bogetti K, Nicora C, Thurnay S, Cortellini P. Self-reported bleeding on brushing as a predictor of bleeding on probing: Early observations from the deployment of an internet of things network of intelligent power-driven toothbrushes in a supportive periodontal care population. J Clin Periodontol. 2020 Oct;47(10):1219-1226. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13351. Epub 2020 Aug 31. PubMed 32748486 ↗
  • Sanz M, Herrera D, Kebschull M, Chapple I, Jepsen S, Beglundh T, Sculean A, Tonetti MS; EFP Workshop Participants and Methodological Consultants. Treatment of stage I-III periodontitis-The EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline. J Clin Periodontol. 2020 Jul;47 Suppl 22(Suppl 22):4-60. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13290. PubMed 32383274 ↗
  • Tonetti MS, Greenwell H, Kornman KS. Staging and grading of periodontitis: Framework and proposal of a new classification and case definition. J Clin Periodontol. 2018 Jun;45 Suppl 20:S149-S161. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12945. PubMed 29926495 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07549347
Lead sponsor
Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Responsible party
Maurizio Tonetti (Professor, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 24, 2026
Start date
Mar 9, 2026
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 24, 2026

Study contacts

Rui Gao, Phd
Contact
gr1015209095@163.com
19818987186
Maurizio Tonetti, DMD Phd
Contact
maurizio.tonetti@ergoperio.eu
15000102368
Maurizio Tonetti, DMD Phd
principal investigator · Shanghai PerioImplant Innovation Center, Ninth People Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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