Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of Perioscan® on plaque-induced gingivitis in pediatric age

Romeo Patini; Benedetta Zunino; Roberta Foti; Luisa Proietti; Patrizia Gallenzi

Romeo Patini
Benedetta Zunino
Roberta Foti
Luisa Proietti
Patrizia Gallenzi

Keywords: Gingivitis, dental calculus, ultrasonic dental scaler, pain

Abstract

Background: Perioscan® is an ultrasonic dental scaler that informs the clinician, right during the treatment, of the location of
calculus optically, and if desired, also through an acoustic signal.
Material & Methods: This is a split mouth randomized clinical trial.The study population consists of 9 pediatric patients (from 9
to 17 years) affected by gingivitis which were undergoing dental cures at the Unit of Operative and Pediatric Dentistry
(Department of surgical Science for head and neck diseases) of “Agostino Gemelli” Teaching Hospital.
All patients received a split mouth treatment with one quadrant of scaling involving Perioscan® (site-group 1), and the others with
an ultrasonic conventional dental scaler (site-group 2). Patients were interviewed about the pain felt during the two professional
dental hygiene procedures. All participants were instructed to brush their teeth at least twice a day.
Patients were clinically monitored at baseline and 8 weeks after initial therapy; probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque index (PI)
and bleeding index (BI) were recorded at all times.
Results: At week 8, in the entire oral cavity, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in all clinical parameters
when compared to the baseline values, while no significant differences were found between sites-groups 1 and 2.
There was significantly more intensity of pain reduction (p < 0.05) in the site-group 1.
Conclusions: The results indicate that the efficacy of Perioscan® was similar to that of ultrasonic conventional dental scaler in
improving gingival conditions. Perioscan® revealed smaller injury potential, combined with a lower intensity of pain felt from the
patients than the conventional instruments. Thus Perioscan®, reducing or eliminating the pain during treatment, can be effective
in the treatment of pediatric patients, dental phobic or those particularly sensitive to pain.
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Author Biography

Romeo Patini

Background: Perioscan® is an ultrasonic dental scaler that informs the clinician, right during the treatment, of the location of
calculus optically, and if desired, also through an acoustic signal.
Material & Methods: This is a split mouth randomized clinical trial.The study population consists of 9 pediatric patients (from 9
to 17 years) affected by gingivitis which were undergoing dental cures at the Unit of Operative and Pediatric Dentistry
(Department of surgical Science for head and neck diseases) of “Agostino Gemelli” Teaching Hospital.
All patients received a split mouth treatment with one quadrant of scaling involving Perioscan® (site-group 1), and the others with
an ultrasonic conventional dental scaler (site-group 2). Patients were interviewed about the pain felt during the two professional
dental hygiene procedures. All participants were instructed to brush their teeth at least twice a day.
Patients were clinically monitored at baseline and 8 weeks after initial therapy; probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque index (PI) and bleeding index (BI) were recorded at all times.
Results: At week 8, in the entire oral cavity, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in all clinical parameters
when compared to the baseline values, while no significant differences were found between sites-groups 1 and 2. There was significantly more intensity of pain reduction (p < 0.05) in the site-group 1.
Conclusions: The results indicate that the efficacy of Perioscan® was similar to that of ultrasonic conventional dental scaler in
improving gingival conditions. Perioscan® revealed smaller injury potential, combined with a lower intensity of pain felt from the
patients than the conventional instruments. Thus Perioscan®, reducing or eliminating the pain during treatment, can be effective
in the treatment of pediatric patients, dental phobic or those particularly sensitive to pain.
Keywords: Gingivitis, dental calculus, ultrasonic dental scaler, pain, children.