Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Efficacy and Safety of Glycine Powder Air Polishing in Moderate-to-Deep Periodontal Pockets

Background: Supragingivally applied glycine powder air polishing (SupraGPAP) has been shown to remove biofilms in shallow periodontal pockets. This study assesses efficacy and safety of subgingivally applied glycine powder air polishing (SubGPAP) in moderate-to-deep periodontal pockets. Methods: Patients with chronic periodontitis and intraoral Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Tannerella forsythia who completed initial therapy were randomly assigned to receive SubGPAP in periodontal pockets with probing depths of 4 to 9 mm, SupraGPAP in all other shallow periodontal sites, and at mucous membranes followed by removal of calculus using curets (full-mouth GPAP) or scaling and root planing followed by coronal polishing (SRP). Patients rinsed with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate after debridement, and twice daily, for 2 weeks. Results: All 30 patients enrolled completed the baseline, day 10, and day 90 visits. SubGPAP resulted in significantly lower total viable bacterial counts in moderate-to-deep pockets when compared to SRP immediately after debridement and at day 10 (P < 0.05). Total P. gingivalis counts in the oral cavity were significantly reduced after full-mouth GPAP compared to SRP at day 90 (P < 0.05). Patients' comfort levels were high for both treatments. There were no adverse events related to full-mouth GPAP. Conclusions: The results indicate that SubGPAP is more efficacious in removing subgingival biofilm in moderate-to-deep periodontal pockets than SRP. Furthermore, full-mouth GPAP may result in a beneficial shift of the oral microbiota and appears to be well tolerated. J Periodontol 2012;83:444-452.