ArticleBMC oral health2026
Digitally-driven optimization of intraoral water jet parameters for plaque removal: a personalized 3D-guided orthogonal study.
Article in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundEffective plaque biofilm control is essential for preventing caries and periodontal diseases. Although oral irrigation devices (water flossers) are widely used as an adjunct to toothbrushing, the specific influence of their core engineering parameters-nozzle diameter, working distance, and water pressure-on plaque removal efficacy remains poorly characterized in vivo, leaving both clinical recommendations and device design without robust evidence. This study aimed to systematically optimize these parameters using a digitally guided orthogonal experimental design.
methodsA three-factor, three-level orthogonal design (L9 array) was employed, testing nozzle diameters of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 mm, working distances of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mm, and water pressures of 70, 80, 90 psi. For each of the nine parameter sets, personalized titanium alloy guides were digitally designed using intraoral scan data and fabricated via 3D printing to ensure precise application on six test teeth per participant (n = 12). The guide featured a retention device and a water outlet assembly with calibrated nozzles. Plaque was disclosed before and after a standardized 30-second irrigation. Plaque removal rates within the defined Target Zone (T-Zone) were calculated using a 3D quantitative analysis method based on intraoral scans.
resultsIntuitive analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the orthogonal data revealed the influence rank: water pressure > working distance > nozzle diameter. The optimal parameter combination was determined to be a 0.5 mm nozzle diameter, 1.5 mm working distance, and 90 psi water pressure. Validation with this combination achieved a plaque removal rate of 90.21% ± 2.34% in the T-Zone.
conclusionsThis study identifies water pressure as a primary determinant of water jet efficacy, with optimal results achieved at specific intermediate settings for nozzle diameter and working distance. The methodology combining personalized 3D-printed guides with orthogonal design presents a practical digital framework for the in-vivo optimization of dental therapeutic parameters.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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 OpenQuestion graph.