Guided Plasma Application in Dentistry-An Alternative to Antibiotic Therapy

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Plasma Physics
• Microbiology

Background:

• Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) presents a novel antimicrobial strategy in dentistry, potentially overcoming limitations of antibiotics like bacterial resistance and side effects.
• The AmbiJet device is designed for targeted delivery of CAP, enhancing its clinical applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of CAP delivered by the AmbiJet device against relevant dental bacteria.
• To investigate the potential for bacterial resistance development following repeated CAP exposure.
• To assess any temperature increase associated with CAP application to ensure patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Antimicrobial activity tested on five aerobic and three anaerobic Gram-positive/negative oral bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
• Application times ranged from 1 to 7 minutes per 10 mm².
• Bacterial resistance assessed through 10 repeated plasma applications over 50 days.
• Temperature monitoring during plasma application.

Main Results:

• CAP from AmbiJet effectively eradicated 10^6 seeded aerobic and anaerobic bacteria at 1 min/10 mm² application.
• No bacterial resistance developed after repeated exposures.
• No significant temperature increase observed, remaining below 40°C, indicating patient comfort.
• Efficacy was confirmed under anaerobic conditions, prompting further investigation into the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Conclusions:

• AmbiJet-delivered CAP demonstrates significant antimicrobial efficacy against key oral pathogens.
• The absence of induced resistance and minimal temperature rise support its safety and suitability for clinical dental applications.
• CAP represents a viable therapeutic option for managing oral bacterial infections.