Development of a Bipolar Nozzle for Disinfection in Periodontology with Plasma Jets

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the root surface caused by bacterial biofilms, leading to tooth loss and systemic health complications. Current treatment options rely on mechanical biofilm removal and chemical antimicrobial cleansing, which can be ineffective and contribute to tissue damage and bacterial resistance. Cold atmospheric plasma jet is a promising alternative due to its antimicrobial effects, lack of resistance development, and without known side effects. This study investigates the development and efficacy of a bipolar plasma nozzle designed for use on non-conductive surfaces, such as natural teeth. A proof-of-concept experiment was performed using a prototype plasma system (helium + 1 % oxygen used as working gas), with in vitro tests on bacterial agar plates of E. coli and S. aureus. The results demonstrate that plasma treatment effectively reduces bacterial concentration, with inhibition zones increasing with treatment duration, reaching two orders of magnitude reduction at 10 minutes of treatment. These findings support the potential of plasma technology as a novel method for periodontal disinfection, making way for further clinical applications.Clinical Relevance- This work provides proof-of-concept for the disinfection and treatment of inflamed surfaces in periodontology using a novel cold atmospheric plasma jet device.