Efficacy of alternative or additional methods to professional mechanical plaque removal during supportive periodontal therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims: To systematically review the literature addressing the following focused questions: “What is the efficacy of either (#1) alternative or (#2) additional methods to professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) on progression of attachment loss during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) in periodontitis patients?”. Methods: A systematic search for randomized clinical trials was performed. Change in clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline was the primary outcome. Results: Routine PMPR performed with either a combination of ultrasonic/hand instruments or Er:Yag laser showed similarly effective in preventing CAL loss. Moreover, a routine SPT regimen based on PMPR led to stability of CAL irrespective of a daily sub-antimicrobial doxycycline dose (SDD). Finally, an adjunctive photodynamic therapy (PDT) did not enhance the magnitude of CAL gain when sites with probing depth ≥4 mm were repeatedly treated. After pooling all data, the results of the meta-analysis showed no statistical differences in CAL change from baseline: mean overall CAL change was −0.233 mm (95% confidence interval: −1.065, 0.598; p =.351). Conclusions: Weak evidence indicate that in treated periodontitis patients enrolled in a 3–4 month SPT based on PMPR, Er:Yag laser (as alternative), SDD and PDT (as additional) do not produce a greater clinical effect on periodontal conditions compared to PMPR.