Air Polishing Research Articles

Conventional versus comprehensive dental prophylaxis: comparing the clinical outcomes between rubber cup and air polishing and the importance of plaque disclosure.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes in dental prophylaxis between rubber cup polishing and an air polishing system using erythritol powder, with or without prior dental plaque disclosure. Method and materials: In this single-blind, randomized, controlled, split-mouth clinical trial, healthy participants with full-mouth plaque score ≥ 60% were recruited. Quadrants in each participant were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: air polishing with prior plaque disclosure; air polishing without plaque disclosure; rubber cup polishing with prior plaque disclosure; or rubber cup polishing without plaque disclosure. Plaque scores and treatment time for each quadrant were recorded. Posttreatment satisfaction questionnaires for both the participants and operators were also completed. Results: In total, 88 participants consisting of 42 men and 46 women (mean age 23.1 ± 2.0 years) were recruited. Air polishing with prior plaque disclosure had significantly lower posttreatment marginal mean plaque score (21.7 ± 17.5%) compared to air polishing (33.5 ± 23.4%) or rubber cup polishing (34.5 ± 19.7%) without prior plaque disclosure (P < .001). Marginal mean treatment time for air polishing (325 seconds; SE = 10 seconds) was significantly shorter compared to rubber cup polishing (407 seconds; SE = 15 seconds) (P < .001). Both the participants and operators preferred air polishing over rubber cup polishing (P < .001). Conclusion: Prior plaque disclosure enhanced the effectiveness of plaque removal. Air polishing exhibited better treatment efficiency than rubber cup polishing and was the patients' and clinicians' preferred treatment modality.

Efficacy evaluation of rubber cup and air polishing techniques using glycine in plaque and stain removal - A clinical trial.

Background:Researchers have proved Glycine to be safe, less abrasive, sweet and comfortable for patients. It is beneficial in removing plaque as well as stains. The present study aims to compare the plaque and extrinsic stain removal efficacy of the air-polishing device and rubber cup prophylaxis technique along with a comparative evaluation of the gingival trauma caused by both the techniques.Method:This split-mouth randomized clinical trial was conducted on a total of 60 subjects in half of whom, left side was assigned to Glycine powder air polishing and the right side to rubber cup prophylaxis with (Glycine powder) and vice versa in the other half. All the subjects had their calculus removed one month prior to the intervention. Plaque index, Stain index and Trauma index were recorded and statistical analysis was done.Results:Both the techniques (RCP and AP) demonstrated a significant reduction in plaque and stains within their respective groups, but revealed non-significant differences between the study groups. Gingival trauma was found to be significantly higher in case of AP group. Rubber cup technique was preferred over air polishing by the subjects.ConclusionThe data indicates that both the techniques were equally beneficial for plaque and stain removal, but rubber cup polishing technique has an advantage over the air polishing technique.

Erythritol-enriched powder and oral biofilm regrowth on dental implants: an in vitro study.

Background Peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are the main biological complications associated with dental implants. Since most authors agree that bacteria play a major etiological role, the main aims of this study were to determine if a formulation of erythritol and chlorhexidine applied with an air polishing system inhibits biofilm regrowth over dental implants and to compare the decontamination capacity of this therapy with that of mechanical removal by saline and gauze.Material and Methods A multispecies biofilm (P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, A. naeslundii, V. parvula and S. oralis) was grown for 14 days on 52 dental implants in an artificial mouth. These implants were divided into three groups according to the applied treatment: 14 negative control (CON), 19 erythritol-chlorhexidine (ERY) and 19 gauze with saline (GAU) samples. Twelve dental implants from the ERY and GAU groups and 8 implants from the CON group were re-incubated for 7 additional days after treatment. The bacterial count was performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using propidium monoazide (PMA). A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data was performed.Results The erythritol and chlorhexidine formulation significantly inhibited biofilm regrowth in comparison with the mechanical treatment (GAU), since a significant decrease in all the species was observed in the ERY group (except for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans). The antibiofilm and antibacterial capacity of the two active treatment groups (ERY and GAU) was similar for a 14 days multispecies in vitro biofilm, except for the lower count of A. naeslundii in the GAU group.Conclusions The use of erythritol powder with chlorhexidine applied with an air polishing system reduces biofilm regrowth over dental implants when compared with mechanical removal by saline and gauze. This effect might be beneficial for patients included in peri-implant maintenance programs. Key words:Dental implants, biofilms, peri-implantitis, erythritol, chlorhexidine.

Mechanical Removal of the Biofilm: Is the Curette Still the Gold Standard?

The goal of modern periodontal therapy, both during the initial stages and during maintenance, is to create biologically acceptable tooth surfaces through sub- and supragingival cleaning, which enables binding of the connective tissue to the greatest extent possible. In past centuries, the focus of periodontal treatment was on the removal of the supposed cause of periodontal disease, the supra- and supragingival calculus and "infected" root cementum. The findings on the importance of biofilm<A51_FootRef>1</A51_FootRef> (plaque) and the endogenous responses to biofilm metabolism have shifted the therapeutic focus to elimination of the biofilm. The importance of avoiding injury to the hard and soft dental tissue is nowadays of upmost importance. For classical scaling and root planing to remove mineralized deposits and "infected" cementum, only hand instruments were available in the past. The regular, long-term use of these tools is associated with changes in the hard and soft tooth tissues, and with pain and sensitivity experienced by the patient during and after treatment. Modern root-surface debridement primarily uses ultrasound systems to remove hard mineralized deposits. For biofilm management, air polishing devices with low-abrasive powders are increasingly gaining acceptance. With this new technology, biofilm management can now be performed much more effectively and efficiently, using materials more sparingly; this also causes less pain and discomfort for patients during and after treatment, and less fatigue for practitioners. The modern systems allow gentle, optimal biofilm management, whereas the traditional hand instruments (curettes, scalers) and classic rotating instruments used for polishing do not. Current knowledge suggests that these instruments are not best suited for biofilm management.

Tooth polishing - A mouthful of history

Tooth polishing continues to be an integral part of clinical practice since the concept of selective polishing was introduced in the 1980s. Polishing essenitiates the removal of stains and plaque bio-film and provides a method for applying various medicaments to the teeth such as desensitizing agents .With passage of time emergence of more efficient and effective devices like jet abrasives have been introduced . Still the role of rubber cups with prophy angles cannot be overlooked as they are still being widely used and provide an economical alternative. A traditional polishing method, i.e. a rubber–cup with prophylaxis paste, has been shown to remove thefluoride–rich outer layer of the enamel thus causing significant loss of cementum and dentin over time. So alternative tooth polishing methods were developed with evidence to support alternative tooth polishing methods, dentists should familiarize themselves with contemporary methods including air polishing. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in air polishing. Clinical Relevance Scientific Rationale of Polishing:Polishing cause the abrasion of tooth surfaces. American dental hygienists association strongly recommends, do polishing of the tooth surfaces, when a dental hygienist or dentist determines a specific need for it. One should understand patient’s expectations they simply like the look and feel of teeth along with the taste and smell are next important factors. Principal findings:Polishing has been evolved from finely ground coral, eggs, shells, ginger or salt. After that various other polishing powders like flour of pumice and calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide (alumina), silicon carbide, aluminum silicate, silicon dioxide, carbide compounds, garnet, feldspar, zirconium silicate, zirconium oxide, and boron. Because of the particle size they were considered to be more abrasive. Practical Implications:With new advances finer abrasive agents with fine pa

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of glycine powder air polishing with scaling and root planing and with fluoride prophypaste as an adjunctive to surgical periodontal therapy- A clinical study

Introduction: The use of the glycine powder air-polishing (GPAP) technique may simplify periodic subgingival instrumentation and may be an alternative to the conventional techniques of subgingival biofilm removal. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of glycine powder air polishing as an additional approach to non surgical periodontal therapy in moderate to deep periodontal pockets, with regard to its clinical effectiveness and bactericidal abilities. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 sites with moderate to deep periodontal pockets were included in the study. The subjects were allocated into two groups viz. the test group and the control group randomly using toss of a coin. 10 sites each with moderate to deep periodontal pockets were treated with scaling and root planing + glycine powder air polishing (Test Group) and scaling and root planing + prophyhpaste (Control Group). Clinical parameters such as gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), pocket probing depth were recorded (PPD). Results: In test group PI, GI, PPD significantly reduced after 21 days follow-up compared to baseline. Pocket probing depth reduced from 5-7 mm at baseline to approx. 1-2 mm at 21 days. Similarly, PI, GI, PPD & CAL significantly reduced in control group also after 21 days follow-up compared to baseline. Pocket probing depth reduced from 5-7 mm at baseline to approx. 3-4 mm at 21 days. Conclusion: It is concluded that GPAP, as an additional approach to nonsurgical periodontal treatment, may be beneficial in the short-term improvement of subclinical periodontal inflammation and it was effective in decreasing inflammation, and pocket probig depth in chronic periodontitis patients and can be successfully used as an adjunct to SRP in routine to non-surgical periodontal therapy. Keywords: Glycine powder air polishing, Prophypaste, Non-surgical periodontal therapy, Biofilm, Bactericidal.

Research on dental plaque removal methods for efficient oral prophylaxis: With a focus on air polishing and rubber cup polishing.

This study was conducted to compare the plaque control effectiveness of rubber cup polishing with that of air polishing during oral prophylaxis procedures and to investigate the effect of the order of air-polishing application on the efficiency of oral prophylaxis. The study included adult patients (≥20years of age) who had visited the dental clinic for oral prophylaxis. A total of 173 subjects were divided into three groups (scaling followed by rubber cup polishing, SR; scaling followed by air polishing, SA; and air polishing followed by scaling, AS) based on sex, age, oral health status, oral hygiene status, and indications and contraindications according to the oral prophylaxis method. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the difference in oral prophylaxis time, residual deposits rate, subjects and dental hygienist satisfaction. The total scaling time was shorter in the AS group (15.4±6.9 minutes) than in the SA (18.7±5.5 minutes) and SR groups (19.9±6.2 minutes) (p<0.05). The rate of residual deposits was significantly higher in the SR group than in the AS or SA groups (p<0.05). The satisfaction level of dental hygienists was higher in the AS group (8.8±1.0 points) and the SA group (8.4±1.0 points) than in the SR group (6.2±1.3 points). During oral prophylaxis, dental plaque removal using air polishing requires a relatively longer time when compared to rubber cup polishing, but it can better eliminate dental plaque. In addition, we found that dental plaque removal using air polishing prior to scaling reduced the total scaling time.

Retrospective analysis of the long-term effect of subgingival air polishing in supportive periodontal therapy.

Glycine powder air polishing (GPAP) procedure has become popular. Aim of the analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) of subgingival application of GPAP with those using sole conventional mechanical debridement (SC). Over a median SPT period of 5.3years (re-evaluation through last observation), the GPAP cohort (n=263) received supra- and subgingival biofilm removal with GPAP. Supragingival calculus was removed using curets and sonic scalers here. Patients in the SC cohort (n=264) were treated with sonic scalers, curets and rubber cup polishing only. Changes in, that is pocket probing depth (PPD) and furcation involvement were assessed retrospectively. A bootstrapping equivalence testing method in line with the principle of the two one-sided tests (TOST) procedure was used to compare clinical outcomes. The GPAP procedure was statistically equivalent to SC regarding the number of sites with stable PPDs (83.3%; IQR 68.8%, 91.0% vs. 84.0%; IQR 77.8%, 90.0%). However, in the GPAP cohort, a trend towards deterioration in furcation status (no equivalence) was noted. In periodontal maintenance, the use of GPAP instead of mechanical plaque removal does not improve the clinical outcome. It seems to be contraindicated to treat furcation defects with GPAP only.

Evaluation of air polishing with a sterile powder and mechanical debridement during regenerative surgical periimplantitis treatment: a study in dogs

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of mechanical debridement and/or air polishing on the healing of ligature-induced buccal periimplantitis dehiscence defects in dogs.Material and methodsForty-eight implants were placed in the mandibles of twelve beagle dogs, and periimplantitis was induced for 2 months using ligatures. The resulting buccal dehiscence-type defects were surgically cleaned and augmented (xenogenic filler and resorbable membrane) according to one of the following treatments: (1) Cleaning with carbon curette (debridement - D) and guided bone regeneration (GBR/G): DG, (2) air polishing cleaning (A) and GBR: AG, (3) a combination of D/A/G: DAG, and (4) D/A without GBR: DA. After 2 months, histomorphometric and inflammatory evaluations were conducted.ResultsThe median bone gain after therapy ranged between 1.2 mm (DG) and 2.7 mm (AG). Relative bone gain was between 39% (DG) and 59% (AG). The lowest inflammation scores were obtained in DA without GBR (5.84), whereas significantly higher values between 8.2 and 9.4 were found in the groups with augmentation. At lingual sites without defects, scores ranged from 4.1 to 5.9. According to ISO, differences above 2.9 were considered representative for irritative properties.ConclusionsAll treatments resulted in partial regeneration of the defects. No treatment group showed a significantly (p < 0.05) better outcome. However, pretreatment with air polishing showed a tendency for less inflammation. Noteworthy, inflammation assessment showed an overall irritative potential after GBR in the evaluated early healing phase.Clinical relevancePeriimplantitis treatment still represents a big issue in daily practice and requires additional preclinical research in order to improve treatment concepts.

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

AimTo 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 methodsThirty 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.ResultsTwenty-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).ConclusionWithin 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.Clinical relevanceThe use of air polishing with an erythritol powder during periodontal surgery appears to 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.

Challenges of oral medicine specialists at the time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Challenges of oral medicine specialists at the time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Sylc Air Polishing Versus Fluoride Varnish Application in Managing Dentin Hypersensitivity in Non-Carious Cervical Lesions: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Sylc (a bioactive glass-based powder) delivered by an air polishing system compared to fluoride varnish application in managing Dentin Hypersensitivity (DH). Methods: This study was a double-blinded randomized clinical trial where 50 participants with DH in at least one tooth with a non-carious cervical lesion were included and randomized into two groups (25 participants each) to receive either Sylc air polishing or fluoride varnish application. Baseline and post-intervention measurements of pain were carried out using evaporative, thermal and tactile stimuli using a modified visual analog scale at 3 minutes, 1, 2, 3and 4 weeks, 6 months and 1 year post-intervention. Data for pain intensity was recorded and analyzed for each group. Results: For the three stimuli used, Sylc air polishing showed statistically significant reduction of pain intensity (P&lt;0.05) after 3 weeks and up to 1 year post-intervention. Fluoride varnish application showed a statistically significant reduction of pain intensity in evaporative and thermal stimuli at 1 week post-intervention only. Conclusion: Sylc air polishing was effective in relieving pain due to DH after 3 weeks and up to 1 year post-intervention, which showed that it can be used as a long-term treatment for DH.

Sylc Air Polishing Versus Fluoride Varnish Application in Managing Dentin Hypersensitivity in Non-Carious Cervical Lesions: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of Sylc (a bioactive glass-based powder) delivered by an air polishing system compared to fluoride varnish application in managing Dentin Hypersensitivity (DH). Methods: This study was a double-blinded randomized clinical trial where 50 participants with DH in at least one tooth with a non-carious cervical lesion were included and randomized into two groups (25 participants each) to receive either Sylc air polishing or fluoride varnish application. Baseline and post-intervention measurements of pain were carried out using evaporative, thermal and tactile stimuli using a modified visual analog scale at 3 minutes, 1, 2, 3and 4 weeks, 6 months and 1 year post-intervention. Data for pain intensity was recorded and analyzed for each group. Results: For the three stimuli used, Sylc air polishing showed statistically significant reduction of pain intensity (P&lt;0.05) after 3 weeks and up to 1 year post-intervention. Fluoride varnish application showed a statistically significant reduction of pain intensity in evaporative and thermal stimuli at 1 week post-intervention only. Conclusion: Sylc air polishing was effective in relieving pain due to DH after 3 weeks and up to 1 year post-intervention, which showed that it can be used as a long-term treatment for DH.

The efficacy of different cleaning protocols for the sealer-contaminated access cavity.

Sealer remnants in the access cavity may negatively affect coronal seal and cause tooth discoloration. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of different cleaning protocols for the sealer-contaminated access cavity. Sixty extracted human molars were accessed, chemomechanically prepared and warm vertically obturated with gutta-percha and epoxy resin sealer. Teeth were randomly assigned to one control (air/water spray) and five test groups (n = 10): scrubbing with an ethanol-saturated cotton pellet (CP), scrubbing with an ethanol-saturated microbrush (MB), air polishing (ProphyFlex, KaVo), MB + air polishing and cleaning with a round bur. Each tooth was split sagittally, and the sealer-covered access cavity area (SCA) before and after cleaning was determined using image analysis software and compared pre- and post-operatively and across groups using paired samples t test and one-way ANOVA. The SCA was significantly reduced in all test groups (P < 0.05), but not in the control group (P > 0.05). Highest epoxy resin sealer reductions were observed for MB (92%) and MB + air polishing (94%), yielding a significantly better SCA reduction than that of ethanol-saturated cotton pellet (58%), bur cleaning (69%) or air polishing alone (64%). All cleaning protocols except air/water spray reduced the amount of epoxy resin sealer in the access cavity, but none of them completely removed the sealer. Cleaning with the ethanol-saturated microbrush, with or without air polishing, performed better than the other methods. Scrubbing with an ethanol-saturated microbrush, with or without air polishing, was the most efficient method for cleaning the epoxy resin sealer-contaminated molar access cavity.

The Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine and Air Polishing System in the Treatment of Candida albicans Infected Dental Implants: An Experimental In Vitro Study.

Background: Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease with an increasing diffusion rate which can affect the long-term survival of a prosthetic rehabilitation. The present study focused on the decontaminating efficacy of chlorhexidine and air polishing system with sodium bicarbonate powder against Candida albicans, a microorganism which seems to have a superinfecting opportunistic role in the pathology. The aim of the authors was to investigate and compare the effectiveness of these treatments, commonly used in clinical practice. Methods: An in vitro study was conducted to analyze the effects of two widely used therapeutic aids for the disinfection of affected titanium implants: chlorhexidine (CHX) and air polishing with sodium bicarbonate powder (P). A qualitative and quantitative comparative analysis of the residual biofilm was carried out using a colorimetric assay (XTT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. The experiment was conducted both on machined titanium surfaces and on rough sandblasted ones with the aim of bringing out differences in the therapeutic outcomes concerning the superficial texture of the implant. The null hypothesis was that no difference could be detected between the samples, regarding both the treatments performed and the nano-structural features of titanium. Results: The best results (on both types of implant surfaces) were obtained when combining the use of chlorhexidine and air polishing (C + P). A linear decrease in the optical density (OD) values recorded at three different time points (30 s, 1 min, 5 min) was also observed passing from the first to the last one. When observed under scanning electron microscope rough surfaces showed an extensive and highly structured biofilm, more complex if compared to the one encountered when analyzing machined implants. Conclusions: the present pilot study showed that rough surfaces can promote fungal adhesion and eventually hinder the outcome of a decontaminating treatment. For this purpose, the physio-chemical technique is always more efficient if compared to a single-technique approach regardless of the surface characteristics.

Effectiveness of air polishing as a method of oral prophylaxis in the orthodontic setting: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of this review is to evaluate and synthesize the evidence for the effectiveness of air polishing as a method of oral prophylaxis in the orthodontic setting. Orthodontic treatment to adjust tooth and jaw alignment typically involves wires and bands that trap plaque, thus increasing the risk of developing dental caries. Oral prophylaxis to maintain oral hygiene and prevent tooth and gum disease is typically done through conventional methods or air polishing. There have been no systematic reviews published that evaluate the effectiveness of these prophylactic techniques in this setting. This systematic review will focus on air polishing in the orthodontic setting only. This review will consider studies with children and adult orthodontic patients undergoing oral prophylaxis as well as prophylaxis of orthodontic appliances. Studies to be included will investigate air polishing with powders compared to any other powder or method of oral prophylaxis. Air polishing versus no intervention will also be included. A range of clinical outcomes will be examined including treatment times and patient comfort as well as adverse effects on orthodontic appliances. The JBI approach to critical appraisal, study selection, data extraction, and synthesis will be used. Databases to be searched will include PubMed, Embase, DOSS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Unpublished literature will be searched in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Only studies in English will be considered, with no publication date restriction. PROSPERO CRD42019143393.

Clinical and microbiological effect of frequent subgingival air polishing on periodontal conditions: a split-mouth randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of repeated subgingival debridement by air polishing during supportive periodontal therapy. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of 6months in duration was conducted on 19 recall patients who were previously treated for chronic periodontitis. Three sites with probing pocket depths (PPD) of 4-9mm in each of the patients were randomly assigned to the following treatments: Glycine powder/air polishing every 30days (group 1), glycine powder/air polishing at baseline and on day 90 (group 2), or water irrigation every 30days (group 3). Clinical parameters were recorded and microbiological sampling was performed at 0, 90, and 180days post-treatment. Subgingival samples were analyzed using real-time PCR methods for Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola. Between baseline and 90days, group 1 showed significantly more PPD reduction compared to group 3 and no significant differences with group 2. Between baseline and 180days, group 1 displayed a significant increase in clinical attachment level compared with group 3. No differences were observed among the groups in numbers of total bacteria or percentage of investigated bacteria at any time point. This study revealed that routine subgingival air polishing at 30-day intervals had significant clinical effects in moderately deep pockets in patients who underwent supportive periodontal therapy.

Effect of air-polishing on surface roughness of composite dental restorative material \u2013 comparison of three different air-polishing powders

BackgroundIncreased composite roughness enhances bacterial adhesion and discoloration, thus increasing the risk of gingival inflammation and secondary caries. Concerns about detrimental effects of sodium bicarbonate on surface roughness influenced the development of less abrasive powders: a glycine-based powder and an erythritol-based powder, additionally - sodium bicarbonate-based powder of reduced grain size. However, there is limited evidence on effects of these materials on the surface of dental fillings. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of three air-polishing powders (of a reduced abrasiveness) on surface roughness of microhybrid restorative composite material.Material and methodsMicrohybrid light-cure resin composite samples were placed on 64 plaster cubes and light-cured through polyester strips. Surface roughness was measured using laser confocal microscope (magnification 2160x). The specimens were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20, 20 and 24) and air-polished with: sodium bicarbonate (40 μm), glycine (25 μm) and erythritol (14 μm), respectively. Then surface roughness was remeasured, keeping the same field of observation. Specialized 3D analysis software was used for data processing. Parameters according to ISO 25178: Sa, Sq, Sku, Sp, Sv, Sz, Ssk were used to describe surface roughness.ResultsSa, Sq, Sp, Sv, Sz increased significantly following air polishing. Ssk was significantly higher, whereas Sku was significantly lower in sodium bicarbonate and erythritol groups than before air polishing. Comparison between the three powders revealed that Sa was significantly higher in sodium bicarbonate group than in glycine group. Sku was significantly higher in glycine and erythritol groups than in sodium bicarbonate group.ConclusionsSodium bicarbonate has a stronger detrimental effect on composite surface than glycine or erythritol. No advantage of erythritol comparing to glycine could be found.

Air polishing with erythritol powder - In vitro effects on dentin loss.

Context:Low-abrasive polishing powders such as glycine (GLY) or erythritol (ERY) are used for subgingival air polishing. GLY was reported to possibly affect the dentin surface, while this is unclear for ERY.Aims:This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the substance loss from the dentin surface by air polishing with ERY at different settings for pressure (PR), distance (DI), and angulation of the spray jet to the surface (AJ).Materials and Methods:The in vitro testing was performed on smooth human root dentin surfaces. In 18 groups with 10 specimens each, ERY was applied with constant water supply for 5 s without moving the handpiece at the following settings: PR minimum (min), medium (med), and maximum (max); DI at 1, 3, and 5 mm; and 45° or 90° AJ. The substance loss was measured as defect depth (DD) using three-dimensional (3D)-laser profilometry. ANOVA with Bonferroni correction and α = 0.05 were used for statistical analysis.Results:The DD was statistically significantly higher at a DI of 1 mm compared to a DI of 5 mm for the respective groups of the same PR and AJ (P < 0.05). For DI 1 mm, max PR, and AJ 90°, the maximum loss of substance amounted DD of 117 ± 43 μm. The minimal loss of substance occurred at minimal PR, 45° AJ, and a DI of 5 mm (15 μm × 20 μm). DD related directly with the parameters PR and AJ and inversely with DI. The highest influence on DD was proven for DI.Conclusions:Slight loss of dentin might occur during air polishing with ERY depending on DI, PR and AJ. The setting influences the amount of dentin loss.

Comparative evaluation of occlusal pits and fissures morphology modification techniques before application of sealants: An In vitro study.

Pits and Fissures are recognized as being highly susceptible to caries. Pit and fissure sealants are one of the best methods of preventing caries as it occludes the fissures and pits from the accumulation of plaque and cariogenic microflora. There are different methods of cleaning and preparing occlusal pits and fissures for preventing caries which helps in alleviating oral health status of paediatric population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the microleakage of pit and fissure sealants after using five different preparation techniques, namely: A) Conventional technique using pumice prophylaxis, B) enameloplasty with round carbide bur, C) enameloplasty with fissurotomy bur, D) air polisher, and E) air abrasion. The study was conducted on 50 caries-free premolars extracted for orthodontic purpose. These teeth were randomly assigned to five groups, 10 teeth in each for receiving fissure sealant after different surface preparation; thermocycling and sectioning of samples were performed and microleakage was assessed under a stereomicroscope after methylene blue dye immersion. The results of air abrasion groups were significantly superior with "0" microleakage when compared to all other groups followed by round bur, fissurotomy bur, air polisher and pumice prophylaxis. To improve the marginal adaptation of the sealants, minimally invasive methods are the most favoured methods of occlusal preparation. This study promises to show positive results for fissure sealants which are likely to play an important role in caries prevention and techniques that are intended to protect caries susceptible surfaces.