title: Subgingival debridement of periodontal pockets by air polishing in comparison with ultrasonic instrumentation during maintenance therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine clinical and microbiological effects and perceived treatment discomfort of root debridement by subgingival air polishing compared with ultrasonic instrumentation during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial was conducted as a split-mouth designed study of 2-month duration including 20 recall patients previously treated for chronic periodontitis. Sites with probing pocket depth (PPD) of 5-8 mm and bleeding on probing (BoP+) in two quadrants were randomly assigned to subgingival debridement by (i) glycine powder/air polishing applied with a specially designed nozzle or (ii) ultrasonic instrumentation. Clinical variables were recorded at baseline, 14 and 60 days post-treatment. Primary clinical efficacy variable was PPD reduction. Microbiological analysis of subgingival samples was performed immediately before and after debridement, 2 and 14 days post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatment procedures resulted in significant reductions of periodontitis-associated bacterial species immediately and 2 days after treatment, and in significant reduction in BoP, PPD and relative attachment level at 2 months. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatment procedures at any of the examinations intervals. Perceived treatment discomfort was lower for air polishing than ultrasonic debridement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This short-term study revealed no pertinent differences in clinical or microbiological outcomes between subgingival air polishing and ultrasonic debridement of moderate deep pockets in SPT patients.
authors: Department of Periodontology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. jan.wennstrom@odontologi.gu.se
authors: Jan L
authors: JL
authors: Wennström
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Dahlén
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Ramberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020906:Air Abrasion, Dental; D058491:Bacterial Load; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D057747:Periodontal Debridement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005998:Glycine