title: Subgingival plaque removal at interdental sites using a low-abrasive air polishing powder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to test the efficacy of a novel low-abrasive air polishing powder in subgingival plaque removal at interdental sites during periodontal maintenance therapy (PMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a split mouth design, subgingival plaque was removed in 23 PMT patients using a low abrasive powder using a standard air polishing unit (test) or curets (positive control). Before and immediately after treatment, subgingival plaque samples were taken from interdental sites with 3 to 5 mm probing depth (PD) at 2 test teeth and 2 positive control teeth. To evaluate the influence of sampling on the microflora, plaque samples were also taken twice at 2 teeth without therapy with PD of 3 to 5 mm (negative control). PMT treatment and plaque sampling were repeated 3 times at quarterly intervals. Anaerobe cultivation was utilized to assess the mean reduction of total colony forming units (CFU) immediately after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test treatment resulted in a significantly greater reduction in subgingival bacterial counts (log 1.9 +/- 0.7) than positive control treatment (log 1.1 +/- 0.6) and subgingival plaque sampling alone (log 0.5 +/- 0.5; P < 0.05). Differences between positive and negative control were not significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel low-abrasive air polishing powder is superior to curets in removing subgingival plaque at interdental sites with up to 5 mm probing depth in PMT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University of Münster, Germany. peterslk@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Gregor J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Petersilka
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tunkel
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barakos
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinecke
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Häberlein
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Flemmig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000388:Air; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D011208:Powders; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013357:Subgingival Curettage / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D011208:Powders