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A randomized controlled clinical trial on the plaque-removing efficacy of a low abrasive air polishing system

Phase 4
Conditions
K05.1
Chronic gingivitis
Registration Number
DRKS00025087
Lead Sponsor
Danube Private University
Brief Summary

While air polishing with abrasive powders has been proved efficient for sub- and supragingival application, only few studies concerning the quality of supragingival biofilm removal using the low?-abrasive erythritol powder (EP) exist. The aim of the present randomized controlled trial was to clinically compare the efficacy of supragingival air polishing using EP in comparison with the rubber cup method, and to juxtapose the corresponding biofilm regrowth rates. Thirty-two young adults, suspending oral hygiene for 48 hours, were enrolled in the present double-blind short-term investigation. Using a split-mouth design, tooth polishing was conducted by means of either air polishing or rubber cups with prophylaxis paste (control). While 16 participants received air polishing in the second and fourth quadrants (and rubber cup prophylaxis in the first and third ones), the reverse sequence was applied with the remaining 16 subjects. Biofilms were assessed using the modified Quigley-Hein index (QHI), and QHI sum scores achieved both prior to and immediately after the polishing procedure, as well as 24 hours later, were assessed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s HSD to test multiple pairwise comparisons. Both methods revealed a significant reduction of QHI scores (P < .001). Compared to the rubber cup method, air polishing resulted in significantly lower scores, both after tooth cleaning and after 24 hours (P < .001). Supragingival biofilm removal by means of air polishing combined with low-abrasive erythritol seems to be more efficacious than the traditional polishing method, and should improve oral health care.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Complete
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria

The number of cases enrolled in the present study was set at 32 subjects per group, including 16 female and 16 male patients. All participants were regularly visiting the outpatient clinics at the Danube Private University, Krems, Austria, and requested a professional tooth cleaning. The participants were young right-handed adults; their age ranged from 18 to 30 years (mean (±SD): 24.27 (± 2.90) years), with well to moderate oral hygiene (dental plaque detectable in less than 40% of all interdental spaces). The level of oral hygiene was determined by means of a commonly used oral hygiene index (API, approximal plaque index), combined with the determination of the oral tissue inflammation level via gingival index (PBI, papillary bleeding index). In addition to the signed informed consent mentioned above, further inclusion criteria were absence of systemic diseases and destructive periodontal disease (no bleeding on probing > 40%; no gingival pockets > 4 mm) as well as any known allergies to components of the Erythritol powder (AIR-FLOW Plus Powder; EMS) and/or the polishing paste (Cleanic; KerrHawe). Patients who underwent procedures of professional tooth cleaning have used any oral hygiene items or plaque dissolving mouth rinse solutions in the 24 hours prior to the in-tended treatment were not considered in the present investigation, due to a possible influence of the aforementioned measures on the dyeability of dental plaque.

Exclusion Criteria

Minor patients or patients over the age of 30. Patients with inadequate oral hygiene (API of 70-100%), poor physical and mental condition, severe systemic diseases, patients who are known to have allergies to components of the test products used in the study patients with fixed orthodontic appliances, patients with a destructive periodontal disease (BOP over 40%, gingival pockets over 4 mm), patients with recently performed PZR, left-handers, no declaration of consent. The subjects take part in another study.

Study & Design

Study Type
interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quigley-Hein index (QHI) sum scores before and after tooth polishing
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time needed to perform the tooth polishing
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