Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42335349›Full record

Trial reportClinical and experimental dental research2026

Efficacy of 3D-Printed Cleaning Splints for Approximal Dental Biofilm Removal-A Randomized Clinical Crossover Pilot Study.

Marcia Spindler, Theresa Becker, Stefan Rues, Kevin Richter, Peter Rammelsberg, Andreas Zenthöfer, Diana Wolff, Valentin Bartha

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Clinical and experimental dental research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Marcia SpindlerDepartment of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8765-3754
Theresa BeckerDepartment of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Stefan RuesDepartment of Prosthetic Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9515-4405
Kevin RichterDepartment of Prosthetic Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Peter RammelsbergDepartment of Prosthetic Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Andreas ZenthöferDepartment of Prosthetic Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Diana WolffDepartment of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
Valentin BarthaDepartment of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-4160-3230

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study investigated the effectiveness of biofilm removal using individually customized cleaning splints (CS) as an aid for interdental brushes (IDBs). MATERIALS AND

methodsIn a randomized clinical crossover study, the effect of IDBs in combination with CS on plaque reduction and periodontal parameters was examined. Periodontitis patients received an intraoral scan to produce a 3D-printed CS. Following a 2-week interdental hygiene pause, they were divided into two groups: Group A: CS+IDBs, Group B: IDBs. Participants performed daily interdental cleaning at home for 2 weeks following standardized professional instruction. After another 2-week interdental hygiene pause, the groups switched methods. Additionally, motor skills, stress levels, and nutritional quality were assessed.

resultsThirty participants (age range 21-82 years) completed the study. CS+IDBs led to a significantly greater plaque reduction (change in Quigley-Hein plaque index, ∆QHI) compared to IDBs alone (ΔQHI = -1.38 vs. -0.23, p < 0.001). The impact on reducing gingival inflammation (GI) was limited to younger participants with no effect on bleeding on probing (BOP). Random effects ANCOVA confirmed the significant effect of CS on ∆QHI (p < 0.001). An interaction between perceived stress and CS use on BOP indicated that stress may influence the effectiveness of CS supported plaque removal.

conclusionsCleaning splints are a promising approach to enhance the effectiveness of IDBs in reducing interdental biofilm.

Indexed as

BiofilmsDental PlaqueOral HygienePrinting, Three-DimensionalSplintsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Over StudiesDental Plaque IndexFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPeriodontal IndexPilot Projects3D‐printed splintsbiofilm removalinterdental brushesperiodontitis

Identifiers

PMID42335349
PMCPMC13290012

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.