Air Polishing for Pain and Compliance in Supportive Periodontal Therapy

Brief Summary

Supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) is essential for maintaining periodontal stability and preventing disease recurrence in patients who have been successfully treated for periodontitis. However, long-term effectiveness depends on regular attendance at maintenance visits, and negative experiences associated with periodontal instrumentation, such as pain or discomfort, may affect patient acceptance and adherence to the maintenance program. The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate whether supportive periodontal therapy performed using an air-polishing device with low-abrasive trehalose powder reduces patient-perceived pain and improves the clinical experience compared with conventional biofilm removal using ultrasonic instrumentation. The study will also assess whether the use of air polishing is associated with better adherence to the periodontal maintenance program while maintaining comparable periodontal clinical outcomes. Forty periodontally stabilized adult patients enrolled in the supportive periodontal therapy program of the Master's Degree in Periodontology and Peri-implantology at the University of Barcelona will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel treatment groups. The control group will receive conventional supportive periodontal therapy using ultrasonic instrumentation, while the experimental group will receive supportive periodontal therapy using an air-polishing device with low-abrasive trehalose powder. Participants will be followed for 24 months. The primary outcome will be patient-perceived pain associated with supportive periodontal therapy, assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes will include treatment duration, adherence to scheduled maintenance visits, patient experience and acceptance of treatment, and periodontal clinical parameters. Periodontal status will be monitored throughout follow-up by assessing probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and plaque index. This study aims to determine whether air polishing with trehalose powder can provide a more comfortable and patient-centered approach to supportive periodontal therapy without compromising periodontal clinical outcomes, and whether an improved treatment experience may contribute to better long-term adherence to periodontal maintenance.