Efficacy of Subgingival Erythritol Air Polishing in Treatment of Periodontal Pockets

Overview

Periodontitis is an inflammation associated with destruction of the periodontium that ultimately, if not treated, leads to tooth loss. Clinically, it is characterized by clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) accompanied by increased probing pocket depth (PPD) and/or gingival recession. The standard periodontitis treatment aims to restore the homeostasis of the immune system by mechanically reducing the microbial load to levels that are compatible with stability and health. This is achieved by professional mechanical biofilm control and motivation of the patient for oral hygiene measures in order to control the biofilm and avoid disease recurrence. Conventional scaling and root planing (SRP), and air polishing therapy are tools used for professional biofilm control. More recently, air-polishing devices have become a promising alternative to conventional SRP in reducing the clinical time and causing less discomfort and pain for the patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of subgingival erythritol air polishing for initial periodontal pocket healing.

Periodontitis results from a polymicrobial dysbiosis with keystone pathogens affecting the virulence of the entire biofilm community. Thus, the inability of the host immune system to eliminate the biofilm insult leads to a complex chronic response with the destruction of bone and periodontal ligament attachment. The main goal of periodontal therapy is to arrest further attachment loss and, consequently, prevent further disease progression and subsequent tooth loss. In most cases, this goal can be predictably achieved by means of non-surgical periodontal therapy using hand, ultrasonic instruments and air polishing devices. Treatment with scaling and root planing often results in an additional increase of root hypersensitivity, thus impairing the patient's quality of life. Minimally invasive periodontal therapy primarily focus on calculus removal and effective removal of the biofilm rather than on excessive and intentional removal of root cementum. Air polishing with erythritol powder seems more effective than manual instrumentation at disrupting biofilm in both shallow and deep pockets, whilst it is more gentle on the root surface and soft tissues, and allowing proper attachment of periodontal ligament fibroblasts. Erythritol powder air-polishing with ultrasonic debridement has reported to need less time than ultrasonic debridement with polishing during periodontal therapy.Therefore, this study will evaluate the impact of erythritol air polishing in resolving periodontal pockets.