Air Polishing Effect on Biological, Clinical and Patient-reported Experience Among Epileptic and Non-epileptic Children

Effect of Air Polishing for Biofilm Removal on Clinical, Biological, and Patient-Reported Experience Among Epileptic and Non-Epileptic Children: A Split-Mouth Randomised Clinical Trial

In epileptic and non Epileptic children, the full dentition of each patient was split into four quadrants, starting from the upper right quadrant (1) and moving clockwise until the lower right quadrant (4). Bundled into two groups: quadrant (1+3) vs. (2+4). After randomization, each of these pairs of quadrants had the same treatment modality; test quadrants received treatment with airflow to remove soft biofilm, and ultrasonic scaler for areas with calculus deposits, and control quadrants were treated with conventional rubber cup polishing to remove soft biofilm and ultrasonic scaler for calculus deposits.

The treatment of each quadrant was administered sequentially, beginning with the upper right quadrant. Treatment duration was measured in seconds from the start of treatment in each quadrant until the removal of all disclosed biofilm and calculus. This process was repeated for each quadrant individually. And intra-oral photographs were taken before, immediately after treatment, and at follow-up time.

Conventional treatment was conducted after biofilm disclosure by a rubber cup and prophylaxis paste spearmint (Kemdent Works, Purton. Swindon, Wiltshire. SN5 4HT, UK). The power setting was between 70% and 100%. The rubber cup was used until all biofilm was removed, then, if present, calculus was removed by Electro Medical Systems (EMS) ultrasonic scaler with a power setting between 3-6 on the Airflow control panel.

For Airflow, treatment was conducted after biofilm disclosure. The powder chamber of the air polishing device was filled with low-abrasive erythritol powder, according to the manufacturer's instructions. The tip of the handpiece was positioned at an angle of 70° to the surface of the tooth to be polished at 3 mm from the tooth surface. Once activated, a non-stop movement from mesial to distal and distal to mesial in a smiley face shape starting from the gingival sulcus and moving upwards coronally to the incisal to cover the entire clinical crown was performed, with a power setting ranging from 3-6 on the control panel of the airflow device. EMS ultrasonic scaler was used to remove calculus if present with a power ranging from 3-6.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children aged 5 to 15 years with epilepsy
• on anti-epileptic drugs (AED) for at least 3 months
• periodontal pockets depths not exceeding 3mm
• full-mouth plaque scores over 50%, and having 5 teeth per quadrant.
• The non-epileptic group included healthy non-epileptic children meeting similar criteria for age, periodontal health, and plaque scores

Exclusion Criteria:

• coexisting neurological illnesses other than epilepsy, medical conditions impacting oral health, periodontitis, asthma, swallowing difficulties, intellectual disabilities, and non-ambulatory status