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Plaque disclosing agent as a guide for professional biofilm removal: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Author(s) -
Mensi Magda,
Scotti Eleonora,
Sordillo Annamaria,
Agosti Raffaele,
Calza Stefano
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of dental hygiene
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1601-5037
pISSN - 1601-5029
DOI - 10.1111/idh.12442
Subject(s) - medicine , biofilm , coronal plane , dentistry , randomized controlled trial , dental plaque , biomedical engineering , surgery , radiology , bacteria , biology , genetics
Objectives To evaluate through computer software analysis, the efficacy of the use of a plaque disclosing agent as a visual guide for biofilm removal during professional mechanical plaque removal in terms of post‐treatment residual plaque area (RPA). Methods Thirty‐two healthy patients were selected and randomized in two groups to receive a session of professional mechanical plaque removal with air‐polishing followed by ultrasonic instrumentation with (Guided Biofilm therapy—GBT) or without (Control) the preliminary application of a plaque disclosing agent as visual guide. The residual plaque area (RPA) was evaluated through re‐application of the disclosing agent and computer software analysis, considering the overall tooth surface and the gingival and coronal portions separately. Results A statistically and clinically significant difference between treatments is observed, with GBT achieving an RPA of 6.1% (4.1‐9.1) vs 12.0% (8.2‐17.3) of the Control on the Gingival surface and of 3.5% (2.3‐5.2) vs 9.0% (6‐13.1) on the Coronal, with a proportional reduction going from 49.2% ( P ‐value = .018) on the former surface to more than 60% ( P ‐value = .002) on the latter. Conclusion The application of a plaque disclosing agent to guide plaque removal seems to lead to better biofilm removal.