Abstract:‎
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using custom-made toothbrushes ‎in the gingival health of removable partial denture abutments and denture hygiene in ‎Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.‎
Materials and Methods: Twenty Arthritis female participants with mild to moderate manual ‎dexterity were recruited for this study. All patients received mandibular unmodified ‎Kennedy class II removable partial dentures of the same design. Custom-made brushes were ‎made by adapting silicone putty to the brush handle to conform to the patient`s dexterity. The ‎participants were divided randomly into two groups: Group I: started with conventional ‎toothbrush/followed by custom-made brush, group II: started with custom-made brush/ ‎followed by conventional toothbrush. Plaque index PI and gingival index GI were recorded for ‎the main abutments as a base line, then after 2 and 4 weeks. Denture plaque index DPI was evaluated 2 ‎weeks after denture delivery, and at the end of the 4-week period for each group. ‎
Results: The conventional toothbrush group showed statistically significant higher values of the ‎mean PI, and the mean GI after 2 as well as 4 weeks. However, both groups show significant ‎reduction in the GI after the 4 weeks period. Conventional brush group revealed significantly ‎higher mean DPI values than the custom-made brush group after the 4-week ‎period.‎
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that using custom-made ‎toothbrush for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients‎ caused significant improvement in plaque control, gingival health of partial denture abutments, ‎and denture hygiene. ‎