Clinical outcomes following periodontal surgery and root surface decontamination by erythritol-based air polishing. A randomized, controlled, clinical pilot study

Aim To evaluate the outcomes following surgical periodontal treatment and root surface decontamination by means of air polishing using an erythritol powder or conventional mechanical root debridement. Material and methods Thirty systemically healthy patients (44.38 +/- 8.2 years old, 11 smokers, 19 women) diagnosed with periodontitis stages III-IV were included. Each patient, with one single-rooted tooth, with one probing pocket depth (PD) >= 6 mm associated with horizontal bone loss, was treated by means of simplified papilla preservation flap (SPPF) and randomized to either test treatment (careful removal of the calculus with the tip of a blade, air polishing of the root surfaces with erythritol) or to the control group (scaling and root planing with hand curettes, ultrasonic instruments). PD, clinical attachment (CAL), bone sounding (BS), and radiographic bone level (BL) were evaluated at baseline and 12 months postsurgically. Results Twenty-seven patients completed the 12-month follow-up (test:n= 14, control:n= 13). In both groups, statistically significant improvements were obtained (p< 0.05, mean CAL gain/PD reduction: test, 2.50 +/- 1.60 mm/3.00 +/- 0.96 mm; control, 2.85 +/- 1.21 mm/3.38 +/- 1.12 mm). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups for any of the investigated parameters (p< 0.05). Conclusion Within their limits, the present results indicate that the use of air polishing with an erythritol powder during periodontal surgery may represent a valuable minimally invasive adjunct following calculus removal by means of hand and ultrasonic instruments or a valuable alternative to these, for root surfaces without calculus.