Antimicrobial Impact of Different Air-Polishing Powders in a Subgingival Biofilm Model

Abstract

Subgingival air-polishing devices (SAPD) can reduce bacterial biofilms and thus support periodontal healing. The authors of this study evaluated the effectiveness of the glycine-based and trehalose-based air-polishing powders in removing pathogenic bacteria in a subgingival biofilm model. We treated 56 subgingival pockets in porcine jaws with SAPD. Subgingival air polishing was performed in three groups of 13 pockets each: I, glycine-based powder; II, trehalose-based powder; and III, water alone. Another group (IV) served as untreated controls. Prior to air polishing, inoculated titanium bars were inserted into the pockets containing periopathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. Remaining bacteria were evaluated using real-time PCR. The numbers of remaining bacteria depended on the treatment procedure, with the lowest number of total bacteria in group I (median: 1.96 × 106 CFU; min: 1.46 × 105; max: 9.30 × 106). Both polishing powders in groups I and II (median: 1.36 × 107 CFU; min: 5.22 × 105; max: 7.50 × 107) showed a statistically significantly lower total bacterial load in comparison to both group IV (median: 2.02 × 108 CFU; min: 5.14 × 107; max: 4.51 × 108; p < 0.05) and group III (median: 4.58 × 107 CFU; min: 2.00 × 106; max: 3.06 × 108; p < 0.05). Both subgingival air-polishing powders investigated can reduce periopathogenic bacteria and thus support antimicrobial therapy approaches in periodontal treatment regimens.

Customized Minimally Invasive Protocols for the Clinical and Microbiological Management of the Oral Microbiota

“…They have the capacity to decrease the incidence of bacteria present (both orange and red complexes, formed by the four oral bacteria, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythensis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola, responsible for the severe clinical manifestation of periodontal disease), to reduce the indication of periodontal disease, and to act as a double action in lowering the carioreceptive pathogenic load [5]. The effectiveness of both glycine [6] and erythritol-based powders [7] should not be excluded to maintain a minimally invasive standard, respecting the hard and the soft oral tissues and reducing the bacterial load of the red complex, with a higher percentage of reductions in Porphyromonas gingivalis in periodontal and implantological patients. The ozone therapy falls within the range of dental multidisciplinarity, oxygenating the hard and soft tissues.…”

Air powder waterjet technology using erythritol or glycine powders in periodontal or peri‐implant prophylaxis and therapy: A consensus report of an expert meeting

“…Focusing on the clinical perspective, there is no doubt that effective biofilm removal on both natural teeth and implants is of utmost importance and a strong agreement could be achieved on this central aspect. APWT is considered very efficient in this respect on both teeth and implants, supra‐ as well as subgingivally, but is also strongly dependent on the accessibility of the targeted site (Bennani et al, 2015 ; Discepoli et al, 2022 ; Mensi et al, 2020 ; Ronay et al, 2017 ; Wenzler et al, 2021 ). The strong agreement considering the adjunctive use of APWT in nonsurgical periodontal therapy in terms of improvements of clinical parameters especially with respect to BOP and PPD is also in accordance with recent systematic reviews (Abdulbaqi et al, 2022 ; Nascimento et al, 2021 ).…”

Effectiveness of Ultrasonic and Manual Instrumentation in Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy: Are Additional Therapies More Effective? A Systematic Review

“…Finally, powders (glycine/erythritol) have been widely used in clinical practice in recent years to remove subgingival biofilm and reduce the bacterial count of Porphyromonas gingivalis [15].…”