Subgingival plaque removal using a new air-polishing device

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Dental hygiene
• Microbiology

Background:

• Periodontal maintenance care often involves residual pockets requiring treatment.
• Evaluating novel devices for managing these conditions is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety, patient acceptance, and short-term microbiologic impact of a new air-polishing device.
• The device utilizes subgingival application of glycine powder at limited pressure.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, examiner-masked, split-mouth clinical trial compared the new air-polishing device to scaling and root planing (SRP).
• 50 subjects with residual pockets (≥5 mm) during maintenance were included.
• Microbiologic samples were analyzed pre- and post-treatment using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Main Results:

• No adverse events were reported for either treatment.
• Patients found the air-polishing device significantly less painful and more comfortable than SRP.
• Operator time was significantly reduced with the air-polishing device.
• While both treatments reduced bleeding on probing, SRP showed a greater reduction.
• No statistically significant differences in total bacterial load or specific periodontal pathogens were observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Subgingival air polishing with the new device is safe, patient-acceptable, and time-efficient.
• However, its short-term microbiologic efficacy was not superior to conventional SRP in this study.