Efficacy of glycine powder air-polishing combined with scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis and halitosis: A randomised clinical study

INTRODUCTION: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of using the Perio-Flow device (Electro Medical Systems, Nyon, Switzerland) adjunctively with mechanical instrumentation on periodontal parameters and halitosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients who presented with a 4- to 6-mm probing pocket depth were recruited for the study. Patients were randomly assigned to scaling and root planing (SRP) or SRP + glycine powder air-polishing (GPAP). For both groups, the plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and clinical attachment level scores were recorded at baseline and 1 month. Volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) were measured by a Halimeter (Interscan Corp., Chatsworth, CA, USA) at baseline, immediately after treatment, and at 7, 14, and 30 days. RESULTS: Both groups showed significantly lower plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and clinical attachment level gain scores at 1 month than at baseline. No significant differences were found between the groups at any time point. The VSCs were significantly different at 1 month compared with baseline in both groups. However, the intergroup comparisons of VSCs were not statistically significant at any time point. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, SRP is effective for treatment of periodontitis and halitosis. However, using GPAP adjunctively with mechanical instrumentation has no beneficial effects on halitosis or periodontal parameters.