Research & Evidence
Independent dental researchers have tested ultrasonic cleaning, the method UvioClean uses, against brushing and soaking. Here's what they found.
56 PEOPLE · 3 MONTHS · DENTURES
Cleaner than soaking and brushing
Ultrasonic cleaning with a cleanser left dentures significantly cleaner, and people preferred it.
66 PEOPLE · 1 MONTH · DENTURES
Less plaque than brushing alone
Adding ultrasonic cleaning to brushing cut plaque coverage significantly more than brushing alone.
17 PEOPLE · CARE HOMES · DENTURES
Removed more biofilm
An ultrasonic bath removed more biofilm and Streptococcus bacteria than traditional brushing.
5 PEOPLE · CLEAR ALIGNERS
Best with a cleaning agent
Of nine routines tested, ultrasonic cleaning plus a cleaning agent was the only one that clearly removed biofilm.
Good to know: these studies tested ultrasonic cleaning in general, not UvioClean itself, and most were on dentures. Always follow your dentist's or orthodontist's advice.
How it works
Ultrasonic sound waves create millions of tiny bubbles in the water. As they collapse, they lift plaque and film out of grooves a toothbrush can't reach, with nothing rubbing against the plastic, so there are no bristles to scratch it.
Get the best results
- Rinse your appliance under the tap.
- Add a cleaning tablet to the water. The best results in the studies came from ultrasonic cleaning plus a cleaning solution.
- Run a cycle. Use the 5-minute deep clean for heavier build-up.
- Rinse again before wearing.
Read the full study details
1. Journal of Dentistry, 2024
56 older adults with partial or complete dentures each spent 3 months using an ultrasonic cleaner with a denture cleanser, and 3 months soaking in cleanser then brushing (randomised crossover). The ultrasonic routine gave significantly cleaner dentures and higher satisfaction. Both routines helped gum inflammation, with no significant difference between them.
Efficacy of ultrasonic home-care denture cleaning versus conventional denture cleaning. J Dent. 2024;148:105215.
2. European Oral Research, 2023
66 adults with metal-framework partial dentures were split into three groups for 1 month: brushing only, brushing plus ultrasonic cleaning in distilled water, and brushing plus ultrasonic cleaning with an antiseptic. Both ultrasonic groups had significantly less plaque than brushing alone; the antiseptic added no extra benefit.
Chan et al. Eur Oral Res. 2023;57(2):83–89.
3. Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences, 2021
17 care-home residents with upper complete dentures tried brushing and an ultrasonic bath, both with mild soap (randomised crossover). The ultrasonic bath reduced overall biofilm and Streptococcus bacteria more than brushing.
Sponchiado et al. Braz J Oral Sci. 2021;20.
4. Progress in Orthodontics, 2017
5 clear-aligner patients tested nine cleaning routines, with aligner surfaces checked under an electron microscope. Only 5 minutes of ultrasonic cleaning combined with a germicidal detergent clearly removed biofilm. A very small study, so it's a useful pointer rather than proof.
Lombardo et al. Prog Orthod. 2017;18(1):26.
Some studies used larger ultrasonic baths and longer cycles than a compact home cleaner. They looked at ultrasonic cleaning only, not UV light. Summaries are in our own words; follow the links for the original research.
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