Electric toothbrush-induced vibration to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of electric toothbrush-induced vibratory stimulation in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Methods: Following PROSPERO registration, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases and grey literature sources up to December 2024. Randomized controlled trials comparing electric toothbrush-induced vibration with standard orthodontic treatment were included. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model and certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials involving 245 participants were included, with five eligible for meta-analysis. No statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of tooth movement between intervention and control groups (MD: 0.28 mm; 95% CI: −0.19 to 0.76; p = 0.24). High heterogeneity was noted (I 2 > 90%). Evidence certainty ranged from low to very low due to methodological limitations and outcome inconsistency. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support the use of electric toothbrush vibration as an effective adjunct for accelerating orthodontic tooth movement.