Article Review: Consensus on Patient-Centered Interdental Care

The Patient-Centered Interdental Cleaning Concept—Consensus Based on a Round Table

(Thomassen et al., 2026)

Interdental cleaning remains one of the most essential—yet often underutilized—components of preventive oral care.

Why is this article important?

This consensus article is particularly important for dental professionals because it moves beyond a “one-size-fits-all” recommendation. Instead, it provides a structured, evidence-informed framework for personalized interdental care, integrating clinical indicators, patient characteristics, and behavioral considerations.

For clinicians, this represents a shift from simply recommending a device to co-creating individualized prevention strategies—a critical step in improving adherence, outcomes, and long-term oral health.

Aim of the Paper

• Bring together current evidence on interdental cleaning
• Translate that evidence into clear clinical guidance
• Support personalized, patient-centered care rather than one-size-fits-all recommendations
• Address real-world barriers to implementing interdental cleaning in daily practice

Methods

The recommendations in this paper were developed through a structured roundtable consensus process involving nine international experts in periodontology, dentistry, and behavioral science.

They used a standardized consensus framework (ACCORD guidelines), individual systematic reviews, and pre-formulated clinical and research questions to develop final consensus.

Key Results

1. Interdental cleaning is essential—but must be individualized

• Toothbrushing alone does not adequately clean interdental spaces.
• Interdental cleaning should be introduced when surfaces are exposed or disease is present
• Timing and product choice depend on clinical signs, anatomy, and patient factors

2. Interdental brushes are generally the preferred option

• Evidence consistently supports interdental brushes (IDBs) as the most effective for plaque removal in open spaces
• IDBs outperform floss in many situations, particularly in periodontal patients.

3. No one-size-fits-all solution

Device selection should be tailored based on:

• Interdental space size
• Patient dexterity
• Comfort and preference
• Clinical condition (e.g., implants, orthodontics, periodontitis)

Alternative tools may include:

• Non-wired interdental devices (good for beginners)
• Oral irrigators (especially for limited dexterity)

4. Behavior change is central to success

• Oral hygiene must become habitual to be effective
• Motivation, identity, and routine integration are critical drivers of adherence

The round table consensus gave general recommendations for interdental cleaning, as well as recommendations for specific situations. Within the discussion, the authors note there is difficulty translating this information and bringing awareness at both the patient level and among dental professionals.

Conclusion

This consensus reinforces that effective interdental cleaning is not defined by a single product or instruction—but by the ability to deliver patient-centered, personalized care.

The patient-centered approach transforms interdental cleaning from a generic recommendation into a targeted clinical intervention that supports long-term prevention of caries and periodontal disease.

This summary of a scientific article by Thomassen et al. (2026) is presented by Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH, TePe USA Professional Relations Manager.

Reference

Thomassen, T. M. J. A., Slot, D. E., Graetz, C., Discepoli, N., Ehrenthal, J. C., Frese, C., Tomás, I., Dörfer, C. E., Van der Weijden, F. G. A., & Sälzer, S. (2026). The Patient-Centred Interdental Cleaning Concept-Consensus Based on a Round Table. International journal of dental hygiene, 24(2), 247–264. https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.70009

Article can be read using the link below.

The Patient-Centred Interdental Cleaning Concept-Consensus Based on a Round Table - PubMed